Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers With Shoulder Pain

We all look forward to going to bed after a long day, but resting easy might be a little harder for side sleepers with shoulder pain. If you sleep on your side and have shoulder pain, you likely experience pain and discomfort or toss and turn as you sleep. 

Switching sleep positions doesn’t always feel natural, though, and a study found that people with shoulder pain are more likely to be side sleepers. Even if you tried to sleep on your back or stomach, you might move back to your default position.

Fortunately, you’re not doomed to sleeping and waking up with aches in your shoulders. The right mattress for your shoulder pain—which, according to some studies, is medium firm—could change your night from restless to restful.

We’ve identified the best mattresses for side sleepers with shoulder pain, based on a variety of features including price, thickness, firmness and feel. These are our top picks.

Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers With Shoulder Pain

Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Hybrid Mattress

Price: $599.20 (Queen) | Thickness: 10.25 inches | Firmness: Medium firm

4.8

Why We Picked It

The Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Hybrid mattress contains a layer of individually-encased coils—a design that helps reduce pressure in areas like the shoulders and reduces motion transfer between bed partners. What’s more, if you sleep hot, its advanced cooling panel is also designed to keep you cool and its quilted top works to make sleep more breathable. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty and a 120-night risk-free trial.

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Linenspa 10 Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress

Price: $299.99 (Queen) | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium

4.5

Why We Picked It

If you’re in the market for a cost-effective mattress that doesn’t sacrifice quality, the Linenspa 10-inch latex hybrid mattress may be a good pick for you. This mattress supports your body so that you can sleep comfortably. The cover contains fast responsive foam that gives your mattress a plush feel, while the comfort layer below it offers a 2-inch layer of fast response foam and latex, which contours the body and responds to movement. Its base layer of individually encased coils with foam latex also isolates motion and provides bounce and edge support. Enjoy free shipping and returns, as well as a 10-year limited warranty with this Linenspa mattress.

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The Allswell Mattress

Price: $449.00 (Queen) | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium firm

4.3

Why We Picked It

The Allswell mattress is a medium-firm and budget-friendly mattress that could be a good fit for any side sleeper with shoulder pains. It’s built with a cooling graphite and copper gel foam layer that wicks away heat and keeps your body cool. Its hybrid features make it ideal for side sleepers, who will benefit from support and pressure relief. It features individually-encased coils that reduce motion transfer and provide edge support. The Allswell comes with a 100-night free trial, 10-year limited warranty and free shipping and returns.

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Sweet Night Island Memory Foam and Inner Springs Hybrid Mattress

Price: $418.00 (Queen) | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium firm

4.3

Why We Picked It

The Island Memory Foam and Inner Springs Hybrid mattress can offer relief to side sleepers who experience shoulder pain. Its supportive high-density foam and individually-wrapped pocket springs allow the mattress to deliver pressure relief, healthy spinal alignment, motion isolation and responsiveness. It also contains a knitted cover and gel memory foam to keep you cool as you sleep. This mattress comes with a 100-day sleep trial, a 10-year warranty and free shipping and returns.

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Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12-Inch Hybrid Mattress

Price: $319.99 (Queen) | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Medium

4.3

Why We Picked It

The Chime 12-Inch Hybrid proves that you don’t have to break the bank to get a mattress that helps you sleep well. This mattress is built with a 1.5-inch high-density soft quilt foam and 1-inch upholstery support foam that gives the mattress moderate firmness, making it ideal for alleviating shoulder pain. Also, It has a 0.75-inch gel memory foam layer that supports your lower back. Its 2 perimeter rows of 9-inch, 13-gauge pocketed coils contour the body to help you feel cozy and provide edge support. Plus, the foam is CertiPur-US certified, eco-friendly and safe for indoor use.

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Tulo Hybrid 10″ Medium Mattress

Price: $629.99 (Queen) | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium

4.3

Why We Picked It

According to the Tulo Hybrid manufacturers, this mattress helps with pain and tossing and turning—problems side sleepers with shoulder pain can relate to. It features cooling technology that draws heat away and keeps you cool at night. Its 6-inch fabric-encased coil support system evenly distributes body weight and supports the spine and joint. Its hybrid features allow the mattress to conform to your body curves, relieve pressure and reduce motion transfer. It has a 120-night sleep trial, 10-year warranty and free-contactless delivery.

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Novilla 10″ Serenity Hybrid Mattress

Price: $331.00 (Queen) | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium firm

4.0

Why We Picked It

The Novilla 10″ Serenity Hybrid mattress may be another mattress that you could put at the top of your list. This mattress comes in 8, 10 and 12-inch models and has features that promote proper spinal alignment, cooler sleep, pain relief, edge support and motion isolation. Also, when you buy this mattress, you get a 10-year warranty, free shipping and returns and a 100-night sleep trial. This mattress is also certified by CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX to be toxin-free, eco-friendly and non-polluting.

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Pressure Relief Euro Top iCoil Hybrid Mattress

Price: $365.40 (Queen) | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Medium

4.0

Why We Picked It

This mattress has a microfiber quilted cover that gives the bed its plush feel. Its Zinus Comfort Foam layer is supportive enough to help prevent the bed from sinking in too deep and its Zinus Base Foam layer helps relieve pressure all over the body and supports proper spinal alignment. This layer also gives the mattress structure, edge support and longevity. Its base, a support coil system, increases the mattress’s durability. The foam is CertiPUR-US-certified. This mattress comes with a 100-night trial, free shipping and a 10-year warranty.

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Brooklyn Signature Hybrid Mattress

Price: $999.20 (Queen) | Thickness: 11.5 inches | Firmness: Medium

4.0

Why We Picked It

The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid is the brand’s best-selling model, according to the company. Its premium quilted top makes the bed breathable and prevents the mattress from body impressions. Its 1.5-inch comfort foam layer allows the mattress to respond to your body movement and its 1-inch transition foam delivers deeper compression support. Its 8-inch individually-wrapped coil system provides motion isolation and edge support. This mattress comes in three firmness levels, so you can choose the firmness level that makes you sleep most comfortably. It offers a 10-year warranty, a 120-night risk-free trial and free shipping and returns.

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Nolah Natural 11” Mattress

Price: $1,199.00 (Queen) | Thickness: 11 inches | Firmness: Medium firm

4.0

Why We Picked It

The Nolah Natural 11” mattress provides cooling and relief for pressure points with its organic materials. Its top layer is an organic cotton cover that makes the mattress feel soft and cool to the touch, while its second layer is organic wool that adds coolness and breathability to the mattress. Below, two Talalay latex layers ease pain points and provide deep body support. Its 8-inch HDMax Tri-Zone support coil system provides strength and structure to the mattress, and below it, you’ll find its sixth layer—made of organic wool and cotton, which makes the mattress sturdy and long-lasting. The mattress comes with free shipping, a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

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Methodology 

To determine the best mattresses for side sleepers with shoulder pain, we analyzed data from over 650 mattress options, ranking them in terms of:

• Price
• Firmness, giving priority to medium and medium-firm mattresses
• Free shipping and returns availability
• Length of sleep trial and availability
• Details and length of warranty
• Mattress thickness
• Pillow top option availability 
• The brand’s reputation in the industry

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Side Sleepers with Shoulder Pain?

Research suggests that the best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain is one that has a medium-firm feel. 

Evidence suggests that this firmness level in a mattress can help reduce pressure on pain areas and improve sleep quality in people with shoulder pain. This mattress type can also help relieve muscle pain, pains in the back and spinal stiffness. 

Regardless of whether you prefer memory foam, hybrid or innerspring mattresses, ensure that your mattress choice comes with features that promote cushioning, pressure relief, healthy spinal alignment and full body support for a satisfying sleep experience. 

How to Choose a Mattress for Side Sleepers with Shoulder Pain 

Your sleep surface matters, especially when you experience shoulder pain. Hence picking a sleep surface that supports your sleep and overall health needs can make a huge difference in your sleep quality.

If you sleep on your side and have shoulder pain, it’s best to go for a mattress that accommodates your sleeping position and helps you sleep pain-free. Choosing a mattress that doesn’t work with your sleeping style and comfort needs can potentially worsen your sleep health and existing body aches.

Look out for medium-firm mattresses. You’ll also want a mattress with pressure-relieving and cushioning features, supporting your entire body and reducing stiffness. You might also benefit from buying a mattress with cooling or temperature regulation properties, especially if you sleep hot or share a bed with a partner. 

Edge support is also a plus, as it prevents you from rolling off the bed, especially if you’re an active sleeper or you’re trying to adjust your sleep position to relieve any body discomfort.