The Snooze Geek
Side sleeping puts most of your weight on your shoulder and hip. A good mattress for side sleepers lets those points sink in enough to relieve pressure while keeping your spine straight. Below are three mattresses worth considering, with specs taken from each brand’s own pages. We have not run our own sleep lab tests, so we focus on build, feel, trial and warranty.
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What Side Sleepers Need
- Pressure relief at the shoulder and hip, usually from a soft to medium comfort layer.
- Enough support underneath that the hips do not sink too far.
- Good airflow if you sleep hot.
- A long enough trial to test the bed for several weeks.
1. Purple Restore Soft Hybrid
This is the mattress linked on this page. Purple’s Restore Soft is an 11.5 inch hybrid with a 2 inch GelFlex Grid on top, 1.5 inches of soft comfort foam and an 8 inch layer of individually wrapped coils.
The GelFlex Grid is what makes Purple different. It is a flexible gel grid that collapses under pressure points like shoulders and hips, while staying supportive under lighter areas. The open grid also allows airflow. Purple listed the queen at $2,699 on its site when we checked in October 2026, with a 100 night trial and a 10 year limited warranty. Retailer trials may differ.
- Best for: side sleepers who want pressure relief with a cooler, bouncier feel.
- Consider: the grid has an unusual feel that some people need time to get used to.
2. Helix Midnight Luxe
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a 13.5 inch hybrid with a medium feel, zoned lumbar coils and a reinforced perimeter. Zoned support means the coils are firmer under the lower back and softer under the shoulders, which helps side sleepers keep the spine level.
Helix listed the queen with a regular price of $2,648 and a discounted price of $1,986 when we checked in October 2026. It comes with a 100 night trial and a limited lifetime warranty.
- Best for: side sleepers who want zoned support and a balanced, medium feel.
- Consider: heavier side sleepers may want to compare firmness options within the Helix line.
3. Nectar Premier
The Nectar Premier is a 13 inch memory foam mattress with a medium firm feel, a cooling cover and pressure relieving foam layers. All foam construction gives deep contouring and strong motion isolation, which suits couples.
Nectar offers a 365 night trial and its Forever Warranty, both among the longest in the industry. Check Nectar’s site for current pricing, which changes often with sales.
- Best for: side sleepers who like a memory foam hug and want a long trial.
- Consider: all foam beds can feel warmer than hybrids.
What We Changed
Earlier versions of this post gave star ratings and price ranges for each mattress, plus a single price at the top. We could not verify those figures, so we removed them and replaced them with prices we saw on the brands’ own sites. Earlier versions also featured the Purple Hybrid Premier. The mattress linked on this page is the Purple Restore Soft, so we now describe that model.
How to Choose Between Them
- Sleep hot: start with a hybrid like the Purple Restore Soft or Helix Midnight Luxe.
- Share a bed with a restless partner: the Nectar Premier’s foam absorbs motion well.
- Want the longest trial: Nectar’s 365 nights gives you the most time.
- Need firmer lower back support: Helix’s zoned coils are designed for it.
Do Not Forget Your Pillow
Even the right mattress will not fix neck pain if your pillow is too low. Side sleepers usually need a higher loft pillow to fill the gap between the shoulder and the ear.
How We Checked the Facts
We rebuilt this page in October 2026 and checked every spec and price against Purple, Helix and Nectar’s own product pages. Where a claim from an earlier version of this page did not match those sources, we corrected it or removed it, and we say so in the text. We have not run our own lab tests, so we lean on published specs and the maker’s own guidance. Prices change often, which is why we tell you when we saw each one. If you spot something that has changed since, the maker’s page is the best place to confirm it.
Final Verdict
All three are solid choices for side sleepers, with different strengths. The Purple Restore Soft offers pressure relief and airflow through its GelFlex Grid. The Helix Midnight Luxe adds zoned support. The Nectar Premier delivers memory foam contouring with a very long trial. Pick based on how hot you sleep, whether you share the bed and how much you want to spend, then use the trial to confirm.
Common Questions
What firmness is best for side sleepers?
Usually soft to medium, so the shoulder and hip can sink in enough to relieve pressure.
Are hybrids or memory foam better for side sleepers?
Both can work. Hybrids usually sleep cooler, while memory foam gives a deeper hug and better motion isolation.
How long is the Purple Restore trial?
Purple offers a 100 night trial when buying directly. Retailer trials may differ.
