Consumer Reports Names The Top 3 Mattresses For Side Sleepers In 2026

When it comes to getting 40 winks, everyone has their preferences. This includes deciding what constitutes a reasonable bed time, the best number of pillows to sleep with, and the best position to lie in, whether it's on the back, side, or stomach. Side sleeping is perhaps the most common position, and has several health benefits, including reduced risks of snoring and heartburn. It's also the recommended sleeping position during pregnancy, as it helps improve blood flow and minimizes swelling in the lower legs. While side sleeping has its perks, it can cause joint pain and general discomfort, especially if you don't have the right mattress. Knowing how to choose a mattress is important, and the non-profit organization Consumer Reports (CR) can help.

In its annual round-up of mattresses, CR tested and ranked the top mattresses for side sleepers, naming The GhostBed Massage Hybrid, Leesa Reserve, and Nectar Ultra Hybrid as the best options. To evaluate the durability of each mattress, the non-profit put them through eight years of simulated sleep, passing a 300-pound wood roller over top of them 30,000 times and using dummies to test their comfort for people at the petite and tall ends of the size spectrum. CR also collected member surveys to assess owner satisfaction and comfort levels of the mattresses it tests.

The GhostBed Massage Hybrid, Leesa Reserve, and Nectar Ultra Hybrid are all innerspring mattresses that get shipped to you compressed and rolled up in a box — there's no need to pay a visit to Consumer Reports' highest-rated place to buy a mattress to get them. Each one passed CR's durability test with flying colors and earned high marks for supporting people of all sizes. While the Nectar and Leesa mattresses are ideal for side sleepers and okay for back sleepers, the GhostBed Massage Hybrid is ideal for both side and back sleepers, making it a good pick if you share a bed with someone who sleeps on their back.

However, there are a couple other factors to consider when reviewing these mattress choices. To minimize discomfort, the Sleep Foundation recommends side sleepers pick a mattress that falls in the middle of the firmness scale, 5 or 6, with 10 being the firmest and 1 being the softest. The three recommended by CR fall at the very soft end of the scale, around 1 or 2, which may not be ideal. If the mattress is too soft, your hips sink too deeply into it, putting your spine at an uncomfortable angle.

Another potential downside of CR's top mattresses is the cost. For a queen size, prices range from just over $2,000 for the Nectar Ultra Hybrid to over $3,500 for the GhostBed. Budget-conscious side sleepers may want to take a look at one of Wirecutter's recommendations, the Novaform 14" ComfortGrande Advanced Gel Memory Foam Mattress, which comes in under $600 for a queen.