Have you ever thought about how much time we spent sleeping? It is actually one-third of our lives! That’s why it is so important to have a comfortable and supportive mattress topper especially if you are a side sleeper because sleeping in this position can cause pain in the shoulder and hip.
We’ve researched and reviewed numerous products to pick 8 best mattress toppers for side sleepers with ViscoSoft 4-Inch Dual Layer Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper at the top of our list. Different sleeping positions require different levels of thickness. For side sleepers, you’re going to want a thicker underpad to cover all pressure points with ease, and contouring around your body, rather than working against it. We picked the best toppers based on how thick they are, the quality and functionality of materials used, the variety of sizes they were available in, and what kind of a warranty they came with.
More features: CertiPUR-US certified, machine-washable 300-threadcount sateen cotton cover
If you’re not on a super tight budget, the ViscoSoft 4-Inch best-rated mattress topper for side sleepers is our personal favorite, along with many other consumers’. Made up of two layers, you’ll receive a high-density, 2.5-inch gel-infused base memory foam layer, as well as a 1.5-inch quilted down-filled top cover, giving a luxurious feel to the topper. The gel works to provide durability and coolness, while the top layer is breathable yet incredibly soft. To finish it off, it’s made with a 300-threadcount sateen cotton cover for the ultimate gentleness. Heavier memory foam toppers can last for much longer than cheaper alternatives, and the 4-inch pillow is definitely ahead of the game in terms of durability. In addition, you’ll get superb support for your neck and spine, while eliminating motion transfer so you don’t bother your significant other, or vice-versa.
The American-made, CertiPur-US-certified topper is both hypoallergenic and machine-washable, which is great for those with allergies or sensitivities. It comes with elastic straps, making it easy to secure the memory foam, and onto your mattress, as well. If you want a 5-star hotel-quality sleep every night, then you’ll want to toss the ViscoSoft into your shopping cart! However, if for whatever reason you aren’t satisfied, they provide a 60-day guarantee, where you can return it for a complete refund. They also give a 3-year warranty for all manufacturing defects. The mattress topper comes in every size, from Twin, all the way to Cal King, so there’s something to fit your bed perfectly.
More features: CertiPUR-US certified, cell memory foam
Linenspa is a company known for creating high-quality home products, and their 3-inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper is no exception. Coming in Twin, all the way to California King, it can accommodate just about any bed out there, so you don’t have to miss out.
Similar to our last product, it is infused with gel to help keep you cool even on the hottest summer nights. Not only that, but the gel also expresses itself as a calming, modern blue swirl design that almost looks marbled. It also provides you with lightweight, breathable open cell memory foam to support your neck and back, while simultaneously relieving any stress placed on your pressure points. Now, while 3 inches is definitely not bad, it lacks density and a bit of thickness when compared to the ViscoSoft. It does provide a generous amount of thickness to hug your body, though, which is ideal for side sleepers.
While it is durable, you’ll enjoy the fact that it comes with a 3-year warranty, which is pretty generous. Keep in mind that you can also extend the life of your mattress topper by rotating it regularly, and letting it breathe without a sheet at times. All in all, this is an excellent option for cooling and comfort, and is a bit less expensive than some other products of this level of quality.
More features: machine-washable cover
A truly unique option, the Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a two-layer topper, which features fluffy fiber filling and 2 inches of cooling gel memory foam, topped off with a soft, quilted cover. Needless to say, if you want a wildly comfortable mattress underpad, this one is an option you shouldn’t just skim over.
The combination provides support while relieving pressure on the spine. The fluffiness provides you excellent breathability, along with a plush finish that will make you look forward to bedtime. If you find yourself getting too hot for comfort at night, then you’ll appreciate the addition of the cooling gel, which works to disperse heat effectively to give you the optimal sleeping temperature.
If that weren’t enough, it’s completely machine safe for both washing and drying, making it convenient to maintain and clean. The USA-made topper is wonderful at staying put when moving around or getting in and out of bed, so you don’t have to worry about that. While it doesn’t come with a cover, it does fit well under fitted sheets. While it isn’t the most affordable product, it’s definitely well-priced. It comes in Twin sizes, all the way to California King, so there’s something for whichever bed size you have. In addition, your topper will come with a generous 10-year warranty which will ensure that you are always covered.
More features: medium-firm, 30 IDL firmness rating, 5 lbs/cu ft; Greenguard Gold, Oeko-Tex Class 1, and EcoInstitut certified
Switching things up here a bit, we have the Pure Green 2-Inch Natural Latex Mattress Topper. There are plenty of toppers that claim to be made of latex, but most of them turn out to only be synthetic. This one is made with completely, 100% natural latex, which comes with various internationally-recognized health and environmental certifications, which is where they got the name “Pure Green Natural”.
The 30 ILD, 5 lb./cubic ft density topper is designed to give you the ultimate in comfort and support. So many toppers out there end up sinking as the night goes on, so when you wake up, you don’t feel as good as you should. This topper will give you the support you need by forming to the contours of your body the entire night. Natural latex foam is much more durable than polyurethane foam or even most memory foams, which really sets it apart from the rest.
Despite being so durable, it’s surprisingly breathable, and is heat-neutral, which means that it doesn’t absorb body heat, nor alter in firmness, depending on the temperature. The open-celled foam allows air to flow freely through the material, so you’re not burning up in the middle of the night. While it’s probably going to last you longer than this, it does come with a sufficient 5-year warranty. The only real downside we could possibly see here, is the fact that the price is a bit steep. Other than that, we loved it!
More features: ventilated design, 3-pound density
As we mentioned previously, having a thick and comfy surface to sleep on is ideal for side sleepers, which is why we couldn’t leave out the Lucid 4-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper. It comes in Twin, all the way to California King, and also comes with a 3-year warranty, which seems to be the standard among the top toppers on the market today!
This one is also among the couple of favorites if you’re shopping on a tight budget. For the price, and the durability, along with the warranty they offer, this deal is almost unbelievable. The 4-inch pillow consists of thick, luxurious gel memory foam which upon laying down on, it will feel almost like a hug. Cradling your body, no matter which position you’re in, you’ll immediately feel extra support around your neck and back. So many foam toppers out there seem to create heat rather than disperse it, which is another reason why we fell for this product. The gel material works to capture and move heat away from your body, so you always feel refreshed. The ventilated design also assists with this, giving proper airflow and breathability, perfect for those hot nights. Unfortunately, it doesn’t regulate odor like some of their other models do, but it definitely didn’t absorb them as much as some of the cheaper toppers we tried out.
More features: machine-washable and dryable, 1,400 gsm luxurious microfibers
Perhaps memory foam or gel isn’t your thing. That’s okay! Not everything is made for different tastes. Maybe you just don’t want a super thick mattress topper on your bed and are looking for something softer. If either of those are the case, then check out the Duck & Goose Co. Premium Mattress Topper. You’ll find the major difference between this one and the previous few, is that this one is made with down alternative fiber, which makes it machine-washable and dryable. Put simply, it’s just more convenient. It’s also about half as thick as the others, which, if you feel the others are too much, is perfect.
The feeling is very plush and luxurious, with 1400gsm premium quality microfiber, to bring you a very soft, yet lightweight, breathable topper. To secure it, they provide anchor bands and durable stitching to adapt to mattress depths from 6 to 22 inches. As the topper is both hypoallergenic and antibacterial, if you have allergies or sensitivities, this is a wonderful solution, as it prevents dust mites and allergens from settling in. A huge plus of selecting this mattress topper, is that it comes with a whopping 10-year warranty, which is extremely generous. Ultimately, if you don’t want a very thick mattress topper, or want one made of something aside from memory foam/gel, then the Duck & Goose Company topper is an excellent selection for your needs.
More features: cool-to-touch washable cover; medium firmness
The TEMPUR-Adapt mattress topper from TEMPUR-PEDIC uses the same proprietary foam you’ll find in the company’s famed mattresses. The topper consists of three inches of TEMPUR-ES foam, which adapts to your body to help relieve pressure points.
At three inches, users also found that the topper isn’t so thick that you feel like you’re sinking into your bed. Yet it also adds a little bit of firmness to plush beds, so you can use this topper to adjust the firmness of an existing mattress and improve your comfort. However, users noted that the TEMPUR-ES foam itself can hold quite a bit of heat, so this topper might not be the best choice for those who already sleep warm.
The mattress topper comes with a knit cooling cover that helps dissipate heat throughout the night. It’s resistant to dust mites and allergens, as well as machine washable for easy cleaning.
While this mattress topper isn’t cheap, users found that you get the quality you pay for from TEMPUR-PEDIC. The topper reaches all corners of the bed it’s designed to fit, and the foam is fully three inches thick and quite dense. In fact, users found that the mattress topper is solid enough once placed on top of your mattress that it feels like sleeping on an entirely new bed.
TEMPUR-PEDIC provides a 25-year warranty on the mattress topper, and it’s available for a wide range of bed sizes.
More features: CertiPUR-US certified, 3-pound density
While we do have a couple other mattress pillows on our list that are easy on the wallet, they may not be enough for some. If you’re looking to find a gem on a really tight budget, then look no further than the Zinus 2-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper. This one comes in Twin size, all the way to King, so if you have a California King, you may want to look elsewhere, but if not, then lucky you!
The topper comes with 2 inches of gel memory foam, which works to keep you cool and comfortable, by conforming to the contours of your body, and provide you with the kind of support you deserve. The memory foam that it features is CertiPUR-US certified, which is some of the best you can get. It ensures durability, performance, and quality of material. The foam is Biofoam, which replaces some of the petroleum typically found in memory foam, with natural green tea extract and active charcoal to help absorb unwanted odors, as well as moisture to keep it nice and fresh. It doesn’t come with a cover, but this is because it can easily work with any standard fitted or deep-pocket fitted sheet. The warranty is for 5 years, which is definitely pretty good considering many others are only 3.
If your mattress isn’t bettering your back or neck pain or even making your pain more intense, you should absolutely be changing things up. This can often happen to side sleepers, as they don’t receive the support they need. The easiest, and often most effective way of improving these conditions, can simply be to invest in a mattress topper. This can work if your mattress is either too soft or hard, as there are guaranteed toppers to fix the issue. However, you may not know which one to select and why. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to create this user-friendly buying guide, so that you’re 100% confident you’re selecting the perfect one for you and your needs.
As we mentioned above, having the correct mattress topper for your needs can completely turn around your condition, and relieve any back, neck, or body pain, in general that you’re experiencing. Your mattress may be either too soft or too firm, but whatever the case may be, there is a topper to neutralize the issue. Side sleepers generally (but not always) find relief through thicker mattress toppers, which support them more effectively, and are just more comfortable.
Again, it’s always a good idea to look for a mattress topper that is thick and somewhat dense. Not only that, but you’ll want one that is nice and soft against the skin (even though you’ll probably be using some type of cover/sheet with it). Another aspect to consider is how well it dissipates heat so you’re not burning up in the middle of the night. In addition, select something within your budget, and select one that has a warranty of at least a few years.
Mattress toppers are going to vary a bit with the materials used. With the vast majority on our list, you’ll see those made with gel, memory foam, or a combination of the two. These are great, as the gel works to dissipate heat well, and always give you a nice, cool surface to sleep on. Memory foam is extremely common, as it works to form around the contours of your body; giving you a soft, yet supportive surface so pain and pressure points are relieved.
Which all profiles have a similar “conforming” feel to them, we did mention how a thicker topper is preferable if you’re a side sleeper. Why? They’ll provide a deeper sink which actually cradles your body and gives you an almost “suspended” feeling, as opposed to thinner toppers, which don’t quite offer this.
This is pretty straightforward, but you need to pay special attention to the sizes of mattress toppers that are available in the model you’re looking for. This generally only happens with California King sizes, as they’re only available with certain products, but you still need to make sure you have the proper size.
Don’t rely on cutting the product, and if it’s too small, it’s not going to fit well, and is going to end up coming off or sliding all over the place. That doesn’t make for a very comfortable sleep.
This is an aspect often overlooked by those who are new to the mattress topper game. You’ll need to take a look into this as well, to make sure that your weight, or you and your significant other’s weight will be properly supported by the topper of your choosing. If not, you’re just going to sink right through it, and the benefits will be lost. If you are heavy, look for a mattress topper that is at least 4 or 5 pounds per cubic foot dense. Mattress toppers with a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot are considered the softest and are suitable for those on a more skinny side.
You saw us mentioning warranties above. The standard and bare minimum of the best mattress toppers for side sleepers is 3 years. While this is substantial, there are some that offer an impressive 10-year warranty. Your mattress topper may very well last longer than that, if they’re willing to offer such a long amount of coverage, so it also gives you a bit of insight into just how durable your product is.
However, if you’re torn between two products and one has a better warranty, definitely choose that one, as it can absolutely save you money and hassle in the end.
While we absolutely loved each one of these best mattress toppers for side sleepers, there were a few that stood out from the rest. The ViscoSoft 4-inch mattress topper was our absolute favorite, thanks to the very thick and dense feel, while remaining a cool, supportive surface that’s perfect if you sleep on your side. Next was the Linenspa 3-Inch Gel Swirl which not only looked stunning, but impressed us with its cooling, supportive, luxurious feel. Open cell memory foam keeps the back and neck stress-free and provides excellent airflow. Finally, the LUCID 4-Inch gives you thick, luxurious memory foam and gel, while also allowing for proper airflow and coolness while still giving you an affordable price. No matter which one of these you select, you can rest assured that you’ll be in the lap of luxury! So, which one of these best mattress toppers for side sleepers will be making its way onto your mattress?