For side sleepers, finding the right mattress is a quest for pressure relief. The key is a surface that cushions the shoulders and hips while maintaining proper spinal alignment. This is where pillow top mattresses excel, offering an extra layer of plush comfort right where you need it most.
A quality pillow top mattress can be the difference between waking up refreshed and waking up achy. The best options combine this soft surface with supportive core technologies like pocketed coils or high-density foam. This guide will help you navigate the top contenders to find the perfect balance of cushion and support for your sleeping style.
Our Top Picks for Pillow Top Mattresses
- ZINUS Ultima Comfort Spring Mattress, Queen
- Ameriwood Industries Signature 13″ Sleep in Full Size
- Classic Brands Mercer Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
- REVO Sleep 14-inch Cooling Hybrid Queen Mattress
- Swiss Ortho Sleep 12 inch Plush Pillow Top Mattress
- Signature Sleep 13″ Hybrid Coil Mattress, Queen
- ZINUS 12 Inch Green Tea Cooling Memory Foam Mattress
- Classic Brands Cool Gel Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress
- Lucid 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Plush Mattress
ZINUS Ultima Comfort Spring Mattress, Queen
This ZINUS model provides a firm yet comfortable sleep surface, ideal for side sleepers who need robust support. Its construction features layers of Pressure Relieving Comfort Foam combined with an iCoil system of hundreds of independent, pocketed springs. This design works to contour to your body’s shape while minimizing motion transfer across the mattress.
The mattress is built with quality and safety in mind, using only CertiPUR-US Certified foams. This certification ensures the foam is durable, performs well, and is made without harmful chemicals. The combination of responsive springs and certified foam creates a reliable and supportive foundation for a restful night’s sleep.
Ameriwood Industries Signature 13″ Signature Sleep
The Ameriwood Industries Signature Sleep mattress offers a straightforward and supportive 13-inch profile. Its pillow top design aims to deliver a comfortable surface that can help cushion the pressure points common for side sleepers. The mattress arrives conveniently and is ready to provide a solid foundation for your bed frame.
As a fundamental option in the pillow top category, it focuses on providing essential comfort and support. This makes it a practical choice for guest rooms, children’s rooms, or anyone seeking an uncomplicated mattress solution with the added benefit of a plush top layer.
Classic Brands Mercer Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
This Classic Brands hybrid mattress merges traditional innerspring support with modern cooling gel memory foam. The beautifully detailed quilted pillow top cover with corded edges adds a layer of breathable comfort. This combination is designed to offer an optimal sleep experience by providing both responsive support and contouring pressure relief.
The mattress ships in a box for easy setup. After unboxing, it requires 24 to 72 hours to fully expand to its 12-inch height. The expansion time can be faster in a warmer room, and using the mattress will help speed up the process.
REVO Sleep 14-inch Cooling Hybrid Queen Mattress
The REVO Sleep 14-inch hybrid is engineered for superior comfort and posture support with a medium feel. It pairs individually wrapped innerspring coils with conforming, cooling gel memory foam. This design aims to provide orthopedic support while effectively dissipating heat for a cooler night’s rest.
Built for versatility and durability, this mattress is suitable for various settings, from master bedrooms to guest rooms. The pocketed steel coils and premium memory foam are crafted from quality materials to promote deeper, more restful sleep. Its robust construction makes it a long-lasting choice for many sleeping environments.
Swiss Ortho Sleep 12 inch Plush Pillow Top & Pocket Spring Mattress
The Swiss Ortho Sleep mattress features a 12-inch profile with a plush pillow top for immediate comfort. Its construction includes a pocket spring system, which is known for providing targeted support and reducing motion transfer. This is particularly beneficial for couples, as movement on one side of the bed is less likely to disturb the other.
This mattress is also Green Foam Certified, indicating a focus on environmentally preferable materials and processes. The combination of a soft surface and responsive pocketed coils makes it a strong contender for side sleepers looking for cushioning without sacrificing support.
Signature Sleep 13″ Hybrid Coil Mattress, Queen
This Signature Sleep hybrid mattress is designed with side sleepers in mind. Its foam pillow top includes a 1-inch 3-Zone foam layer that provides soft comfort for the upper and lower body while offering a firmer center to support the lower back and hips. The cover is made from rayon derived from bamboo, which helps with moisture absorption and breathability.
The core support comes from 630 independently encased 15-gauge coils. This system contours to the body’s curves, promotes equal weight distribution, and helps relieve pressure points. The mattress will need 24 to 72 hours to fully expand to its 13-inch height after being unboxed.
ZINUS 12 Inch Green Tea Cooling Memory Foam Mattress
This updated ZINUS mattress is designed for cooler sleep and features a fiberglass-free construction. It is topped with cooling gel memory foam that helps regulate temperature throughout the night. The pressure-relieving foam conforms to your body shape to enhance circulation and decrease stress on joints like shoulders and hips.
A unique feature of this mattress is the infusion of all-natural green tea and purified charcoal. These elements work together to help keep the mattress fresh over time. The mattress ships in a smaller box to support a reduced carbon footprint, combining comfort with an awareness of environmental impact.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Ventilated Memory Foam 10-Inch Mattress
This 10-inch mattress from Classic Brands offers a medium-firm feel that is suitable for side sleepers. Its ergonomic support comes from a high-density foam base and a breathable comfort foam layer that adapts to your body. This design helps evenly distribute weight and reduce pressure points for enhanced relaxation.
The mattress features a ventilated, open-cell structure that enhances airflow and heat dissipation. This cooling technology works to prevent overheating, ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment all night long. As a CertiPUR-US certified product, you can be confident in the foam’s quality, durability, and content.
Lucid 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Plush Mattress
The Lucid 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress provides a plush sleeping surface designed for pressure relief. Its gel-infused memory foam layer is engineered to conform to the body’s contours, which can help align the spine and cushion the shoulders and hips of side sleepers. The gel infusion also aids in distributing body heat to reduce night-time overheating.
This mattress arrives in a box for straightforward setup and will expand to its full size after being unboxed. It represents a value-focused option in the memory foam category, offering the conforming benefits of gel foam in a straightforward, plush design that many side sleepers will appreciate.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in a Pillow Top 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 feeling sore in the morning. That’s where pillow top mattresses come in. They add an extra layer of cushioning right on top, which is exactly what our pressure points need. But not all pillow tops are created equal. Here’s what I look for when choosing one.
First and foremost, let’s talk about pressure relief. Your shoulder and hip are bearing most of your body weight when you’re on your side. You need a mattress that will allow these areas to sink in just enough to alleviate pressure, while still keeping your spine in a straight line. A mattress that’s too firm will push back against your joints, and one that’s too soft will let your spine sag. Look for a pillow top that has a plush, conforming feel without being overly squishy.
Next up is support. This might seem like it contradicts pressure relief, but they go hand-in-hand. A good pillow top mattress for side sleepers has a soft, comforting top layer paired with a strong support core underneath. This core, often made of pocketed coils or high-density foam, prevents your heavier midsection from sinking too far down. The goal is a mattress that cradles your curves but still feels solid and supportive across the entire surface.
The materials in the pillow top itself are also a big deal. You’ll commonly find memory foam, latex, or polyfoam. Memory foam is fantastic for contouring closely to your body’s shape. Latex is more responsive and tends to sleep cooler. Polyfoam is a common and effective option, though its quality can vary. I prefer a combination, like a memory foam pillow top for pressure relief on a coil system for bounce and airflow.
Finally, don’t forget about edge support and temperature regulation. If you sleep near the edge of the bed, you want to feel secure, not like you’re about to roll off. A mattress with reinforced edges makes a huge difference. And since some pillow tops can trap heat, look for models with cooling gel infusions, breathable covers, or latex layers to help you sleep cooler through the night. Taking the time to consider these factors will help you find one of the best pillow top mattresses for side sleepers that works for your body.
FAQ
Are pillow top mattresses good for side sleepers?
Yes, absolutely. In my experience, they are one of the best choices for side sleepers. The extra cushioning layer is specifically designed to provide that initial softness our shoulders and hips need. It helps to prevent pressure points from building up, which is a common issue when sleeping on your side on a firmer surface. The key is finding a pillow top that has the right balance of plush comfort and underlying support to keep your spine aligned.
What is the difference between a plush mattress and a pillow top mattress?
This is a common point of confusion. “Plush” is a term that describes the overall feel or firmness level of the entire mattress. A pillow top, on the other hand, is a specific construction. It’s a separate, stitched-on layer of padding on top of the mattress. You can have a plush mattress that doesn’t have a pillow top—its comfort layers might be built inside the mattress cover. A pillow top is a physical feature that often creates a plush feel, but it’s not the same thing.
Do pillow top mattresses sag over time?
They can, but this is true for any mattress. The potential for sagging often comes down to the quality of the materials. A pillow top made with low-density foam is more likely to develop permanent body impressions over the years. To avoid this, I look for mattresses from reputable brands that use high-resilience foams and durable support cores. Rotating your mattress head-to-foot every few months can also help distribute wear more evenly and prolong its life.
How firm should a mattress be for a side sleeper?
Most side sleepers, including myself, find the most comfort in a mattress that lands in the medium-soft to medium-firm range. You need enough “give” to cushion your hips and shoulders, but enough “push” to support your waist and prevent your spine from curving. A mattress that is too firm can cause alignment issues, while one that is too soft can lead to sinking. It’s all about that middle ground that offers both contouring and support.
Can stomach sleepers use a pillow top mattress?
It’s possible, but it’s often not the ideal choice. Stomach sleepers generally need a firmer surface to keep their hips from sinking in too deeply, which can arch the lower back and cause pain. A soft pillow top might be too plush for proper spinal alignment in this position. If a stomach sleeper really wants a pillow top, they should look for one with a firmer underlying support system to counteract the soft top layer.