Finding the right full-size mattress is crucial for side sleepers, as the wrong support can lead to pressure points and restless nights. Your mattress needs to cushion the shoulders and hips while maintaining proper spinal alignment to prevent morning aches. The ideal model combines pressure relief with cooling comfort to ensure you stay supported and sweat-free until morning.
We’ve researched the market to bring you a selection of mattresses designed specifically for side sleeping. This roundup focuses on features like zoned support, cooling gel infusions, and responsive foams that contour to your body’s curves. Whether you prefer the classic feel of memory foam or the buoyant support of a hybrid, there’s an option here to help you achieve deeper, more restorative sleep.
Our Top Picks for Full Size Mattresses
- Best Price Mattress 6 Inch Memory Foam Mattress
- Ruoysun 10 Inch Full Size Mattress in a Box
- ZINUS 6 Inch Full Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
- GAESTE 8 Inch Full Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
- MOLBIUS Full Size Mattress 10 Inch Hybrid
- Full Size Mattress, 12 Inch with Pocketed Springs
- ZINUS 12 Inch Queen Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
- Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress
- Tuft & Needle Original Medium Queen Adaptive Foam Mattress
- Lucid 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Plush Mattress
Best Price Mattress 6 Inch Memory Foam Mattress
This 6-inch mattress from Best Price Mattress offers a straightforward, effective solution for side sleepers on a budget. The gel-infused memory foam adapts to your body, providing personalized comfort and precise support where you need it most, particularly at the shoulders and hips. This targeted pressure relief helps to ease stress points for a more restful sleep.
A key benefit for those who sleep hot is the cooling technology integrated into the foam. The infused gel works to regulate temperature throughout the night, while the breathable design enhances airflow. This combination helps maintain a fresh, cool sleep environment, preventing overheating and promoting deeper sleep cycles.
Ruoysun 10 Inch Full Size Mattress in a Box
The Ruoysun 10-inch hybrid mattress combines the contouring comfort of memory foam with the robust support of pocketed springs. Its skin-friendly, breathable 3D knitted fabric provides a cloud-like, soft embrace that gently contours to your body. This design is excellent for relieving pressure points, making it a strong candidate for side sleepers seeking a luxurious feel.
Inside, the cooling gel-infused foam actively regulates body temperature to prevent overheating. The 7-zone contouring support system is precision-engineered to maintain natural spinal alignment by providing targeted support to different body zones. This zoned approach ensures your hips and shoulders are properly cushioned while your spine stays straight, reducing the potential for back pain.
ZINUS 6 Inch Full Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
ZINUS brings its popular formula to a slimmer, more compact profile with this 6-inch full-size mattress. It features patented zoned pressure relief technology specifically designed to help reduce aches and pains through the night. The pressure-relieving memory foam conforms to your body’s shape, which is ideal for cushioning a side sleeper’s pressure points.
An all-natural green tea and charcoal infusion works to keep the mattress fresh over time. This new version also ships in a smaller box, reducing its carbon footprint. For side sleepers looking for a reliable, fiberglass-free memory foam mattress with eco-conscious packaging, this is a compelling option.
GAESTE 8 Inch Full Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The GAESTE 8-inch mattress is built for those who prioritize a cool sleep. Its cooling gel memory foam is engineered to keep nights sweat-free and refreshing, helping to prevent sleep disturbances caused by overheating. This makes it a suitable choice for side sleepers who often experience warmth buildup in the foam where their body sinks in.
With a medium firmness level, this mattress finds the sweet spot between support and softness. It provides enough give to cushion the shoulders and hips while offering a solid foundation to keep the spine aligned. It represents a budget-friendly path to quality sleep without sacrificing important features like pressure relief and cooling technology.
MOLBIUS Full Size Mattress 10 Inch Hybrid
MOLBIUS has crafted a 10-inch hybrid mattress designed to be a safe, fiberglass-free retreat for unparalleled rest. The intricately layered design combines memory foam with individual pocket springs, creating a sleep surface that excels in both temperature regulation and motion isolation. This means you are less likely to be disturbed by a partner’s movements throughout the night.
The medium-firm feel provides a balanced experience, offering contouring comfort without excessive sinkage. This is beneficial for side sleepers who need cushioning for their hips and shoulders but still require adequate support to maintain spinal alignment. The mattress is versatile and fits most common bed frames, from traditional box springs to modern platforms.
Full Size Mattress, 12 Inch with Pocketed Springs
This 12-inch full-size mattress from Fynterra uses a combination of advanced foams and a core of pocketed coils to deliver exceptional support. The upgraded cooling knit cover is soft and skin-friendly, actively wicking sweat away from your body. Advanced airflow channels throughout the mattress work to dissipate heat, ensuring a comfortably cool sleep.
For side sleepers, the three premium foam layers adapt and cradle your unique shape, intelligently relieving pressure on the shoulders, hips, and spine. The high-resilience pocketed coils at the heart of the mattress react independently to provide precise, powerful support where your body needs it most, helping to prevent sagging and combat back pain.
ZINUS 12 Inch Queen Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Offering a more substantial profile, this 12-inch queen mattress from ZINUS provides ample cushioning for side sleepers. It utilizes the same patented zoned pressure relief technology as its thinner counterpart, designed to target and reduce aches and pains throughout the night. The thicker layers of pressure-relieving memory foam allow for deeper contouring around the shoulders and hips.
The all-natural green tea and purified charcoal infusions continue to be a highlight, working together to maintain mattress freshness. This model also ships in a compact box for a reduced environmental impact. It’s a solid choice for those who want the deep contouring of a thicker all-foam mattress with natural freshness protection.
Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress
The Signature Design by Ashley Chime mattress brings supportive, dreamy sleep with its hybrid construction. Layers of padding, including gel memory foam, sit atop 360 individual power-packed wrapped coils. This setup is engineered for maximum lumbar support, which is crucial for maintaining spinal health as a side sleeper.
The hybrid design offers a medium level of support, combining the body-hugging feel of foam with the responsive support of springs. The individually wrapped coils help to reduce motion transfer, and the perimeter rows enhance edge support. This makes the entire surface of the mattress usable and supportive, providing consistent comfort from edge to edge.
Tuft & Needle Original Medium Queen Adaptive Foam Mattress
The Tuft & Needle Original mattress features a proprietary Adaptive Foam that provides a unique, responsive comfort. The medium feel is intentionally designed for all sleeping positions, firming up the deeper you settle in to offer personalized support. For side sleepers, this means the foam cushions your curves without letting you sink in too deeply.
This foam is also infused with cooling gel and heat-conducting graphite, which work together to help wick heat away from your body. The open-cell structure of the foam enhances breathability and provides contouring pressure relief. The result is a supportive mattress that helps regulate temperature throughout the night.
Lucid 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Plush Mattress
The Lucid 10-inch mattress is a plush option that focuses on delivering a soft, pressure-relieving sleep experience. The gel-infused memory foam layer is designed to adapt to your body’s contours, providing targeted relief to the shoulders and hips, which is a primary concern for side sleepers. The plush feel allows for significant cushioning at these key pressure points.
Gel infusion serves a dual purpose: enhancing the contouring properties of the foam and helping to dissipate body heat. This helps to create a more temperature-neutral sleep surface compared to traditional memory foam. It’s a straightforward, value-oriented choice for side sleepers who prefer a plusher, more cushioning feel from their mattress.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Full Size Mattress for Side Sleepers
As a side sleeper myself, I know the struggle of finding a mattress that doesn’t leave my shoulder and hip aching by morning. The key is pressure relief, and that comes down to a few specific features you should prioritize when shopping for the best full size mattresses for side sleepers.
First, let’s talk about firmness. This is probably the most important factor. A mattress that’s too firm will jam your shoulder and hip, cutting off circulation and causing pain. One that’s too soft will let your body sink in too deeply, potentially throwing your spine out of alignment. For most side sleepers, a medium-soft to medium-firm feel is the sweet spot. This provides enough cushioning to cradle your curves while still offering support to keep your spine straight. Your body weight plays a role here too; lighter individuals might prefer a softer feel, while heavier folks might need a medium-firm mattress to prevent sinking too far.
Next, consider the mattress type and materials. Memory foam is a classic choice for us side sleepers because it’s a champion at contouring to the body and relieving pressure points. Look for models with multiple layers, often a softer comfort layer on top of a more supportive base foam. Hybrid mattresses are another fantastic option. They combine the body-hugging benefits of foam with the responsive support and airflow of pocketed coils. This can be a great solution if you tend to sleep hot or want a bit more bounce. Innerspring mattresses, with their traditional coil systems, are often too firm and lack the necessary contouring, so I usually steer side sleepers toward foam or hybrid models.
Don’t forget about edge support. Even on a full size mattress, you’ll appreciate a sturdy perimeter. Good edge support means you can sleep or sit near the edge of the bed without feeling like you’re going to roll off. This effectively increases the usable sleep surface. It’s a feature often highlighted in product descriptions, so keep an eye out for it.
Finally, always check the trial period and warranty. Buying a mattress is a big decision, and you can’t truly know if it’s right for you until you’ve slept on it for a few weeks. A long home trial (think 100 nights or more) gives you a real chance to adjust and decide. A solid warranty protects your investment from manufacturing defects for years to come. Taking the time to understand these factors will make your search for a comfortable, supportive full size mattress much more successful.
FAQ
What firmness level is best for a side sleeper?
Most side sleepers find a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress works best. This range provides the ideal balance of cushioning for your shoulders and hips and support to keep your spine in a neutral alignment. If you are on the lighter side, you might lean toward medium-soft. If you have a heavier body type, a medium-firm mattress will likely prevent you from sinking too deeply.
Are memory foam mattresses good for side sleepers?
Yes, memory foam is often an excellent choice for side sleepers. Its ability to contour closely to the body’s shape makes it very effective at relieving pressure on the shoulders and hips. However, some memory foam can trap heat. If you’re a hot sleeper, look for mattresses with gel infusions or open-cell foam designs that promote better airflow.
How much should I expect to spend on a quality full size mattress?
The price for a good quality full size mattress can vary widely, but you can generally find reliable options between $800 and $1,500. While you can find cheaper models, they often use lower-quality materials that may not provide the durable support and pressure relief a side sleeper needs. Investing in a well-constructed mattress from a reputable brand is usually worth it for your sleep health.
Do I need a mattress topper if I’m a side sleeper?
You might. A mattress topper can be a great, budget-friendly solution to adjust the feel of your current mattress. If your mattress is slightly too firm, a soft or plush memory foam topper can add the extra cushioning your pressure points need. However, a topper cannot fix a mattress that is sagging or completely unsupportive.
What if the mattress is too firm after I buy it?
This is a common concern, which is why the trial period is so important. Most online mattress companies offer a sleep trial of at least 90 nights. If the mattress is too firm after a few weeks, contact the company. Many have policies to help, which could include sending you a complimentary foam topper to soften the feel or initiating a return and refund process.
Can a full size mattress accommodate two side sleepers?
A full size mattress can work for two people, but it’s a relatively compact space, measuring 54 inches wide. For two adult side sleepers, there might not be enough room for both to sleep comfortably without disturbing each other, especially if one or both are active sleepers. If you share the bed, I would strongly recommend considering a Queen size for more personal space. However, if space or budget constraints make a full size the only option, looking for one of the best full size mattresses for side sleepers with good motion isolation will be crucial.