Best Mattresses for Every Sleeper, Per Experts and Editors

Struggling to get enough sleep is remarkably common: About one in three American adults don’t get the recommended seven hours a night, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If your nights are being disrupted by pain, heat, or general discomfort, it might be time to think about getting a new mattress. However, buying one can feel daunting. The key to getting the best mattress for you? Knowing your sleep type and needs. First, which position do you sleep in? Are you a back, side, or stomach sleeper? Then, what kind of firmness level do you prefer? Most mattresses are available in firm, medium, or plush. Last, do you have any pre-existing conditions that require specific support or pressure relief, like back pain, hip pain, or something else? All of these factors play a part in finding the perfect mattress for you—and ultimately getting better sleep.

We consulted sleep experts and reviewed editor-vetted and tested mattresses to find the best mattresses for each particular sleep style and concern. So whether you’re a hot sleeper who lies on their stomach or a side sleeper with joint pain, we’ve broken down exactly what you need to look for in your mattress shopping.

Side sleepers who don’t have the right mattress are often prone to shoulder soreness, hip pressure, or stiffness in the lower back, according to Raj Dasgupta, M.D., a quadruple board-certified physician. As for what to look for, he says to opt for a medium-soft to medium mattress, which allows your shoulder and hip to sink into the surface while keeping the waist and legs supported.

Best Overall Mattress for Side Sleepers

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt

Best Value Mattress for Side Sleepers

Nectar Premier 13-Inch Memory Foam Mattress

Now 16% Off

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain

The best mattress for side sleepers? The Tempur-Pedic Adapt mattress. It combines firmness with top layers of memory foam for dynamic spinal support, while adapting to your body as you change positions during the night.

For a choice that’s budget conscious, our winner for best value mattress for side sleepers is the Nectar Premier. The brand’s most popular memory foam mattress, the Premier, is made of cooling fibers and pressure-relieving memory foam for a good balance of softness and support.

If side sleeping has caused you hip pain, the Helix Midnight Luxe, is our experts’ choice. It provides a medium firmness, enhanced lumbar support, and extra support across the shoulder and hips to help relieve pressure points that can cause painful flare-ups.

Back sleepers will do best with a medium to medium-firm mattress that helps support the natural curve of the lower back, explains Dr. Dasgupta. “Your sleep position determines where your body carries weight and how your spine curves overnight,” he tells us. “If the mattress does not match that position, you can develop strain over hours of sleep.” To put it simply? Make sure your mattress offers lumbar support, since that’s where your weight will be most prominent and can cause back pain without it.

Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Sleepers

Saatva Classic Mattress

Now 15% Off

Best Value Mattress for Back Sleepers

Best Supportive Mattress for Back Sleepers

Available in three firmness levels—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm—the Saatva Classic is a shopper, sleep-expert, and editor-favorite. That’s because the brand’s patented Lumbar Zone technology, which promotes healthy spinal alignment via individually wrapped coils in the center third of the mattress, gives your back extra support where it’s most needed. In addition to the coil design that boosts airflow, this mattress also has a naturally breathable, hypoallergenic cover made with organic cotton to help you sleep cooler. The Classic is the best innerspring mattress in our best mattresses for back sleepers recommendations.

Dr. Dasgupta recommends this popular pick from Nectar, which offers a ton of support for its affordable price. “The Nectar Sleep Classic mattress is a good option to consider,” he says. “It is a medium-firm memory foam option that contours to the shoulders and hips while keeping the lower back supported. Memory foam helps spread pressure evenly, which can reduce morning stiffness.” It’s his choice for best memory foam mattress for back sleepers, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that it’s more than a grand less expensive than the Saatva Classic.

Our pick for best supportive mattress for back sleepers is the Nolah Original. It offers a medium level of firmness that provides the ideal balance of pressure relief and support. It’s constructed with six responsive, gentle foam layers that contour to your body, enhancing lumbar support and pressure relief.

According to Yash Mehta, D.O., an interventional spine and sports medicine doctor of osteopathic medicine (and self-proclaimed stomach-sleeper), you will want a firmer-than-usual mattress to help keep hips level and the belly supported at night. “A soft mattress lets your stomach and hips dip, leading to an exaggerated, painful U-shape in your back,” he says. “Over time, that increased compression can lead to stiffness and pain.”

Best Overall Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Saatva Classic Mattress

Now 15% Off

Best Organic Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Avocado Green Mattress

Now 20% Off

Best Adjustable Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Naturepedic EOS Classic Customizable Organic Mattress

Now 20% Off

Best Innerspring Mattress isn’t the Saatva Classic’s only accolade. Our pros also recommend it as the best overall mattress for stomach sleepers. Because of its supportive blend of individually wrapped steel coils that contour to your body and its added spinal support, it’s great for stomach sleepers who want pressure relief without sacrificing plushness. Our self-proclaimed “rotisserie chicken” sleeper, former Assistant Editor Shannen Zitz wrote, “While stomach sleeping always leaves me with all sorts of strange sensations when I wake up, I must say those pains have been greatly reduced since switching to this mattress.”

Another editor favorite is the Avocado Green Mattress, which holds the spot of best organic mattress on our roundup of best mattresses for stomach sleepers. Designed to support your hips, back, and shoulders, this Avocado has seven different zones to provide customized structure where you need it. “My spine feels neutrally aligned without any uncomfortable pressure on my neck or lower back. Even with the plush pillow-top, the mattress still feels bouncy and responsive, making it easy to move around on and comfortably switch sleeping positions throughout the night with no danger of sinking in too far,” wrote Hannah Jeon, associate commerce editor.

According to Dr. Mehta, data shows the population of stomach sleepers to be small—only about 10 percent—making the likelihood of sharing a bed with another stomach sleeper who shares your firmness needs unlikely. This adjustable organic mattress from Naturepedic eliminates that dilemma; you can adjust each side of the mattress to you and your partner’s sleep needs. That’s why we’ve named it the best adjustable mattress for stomach sleepers.

No, you’re not crazy. Feeling hot during sleep can prevent you from getting good rest. “Sleep onset is tied to a drop in core body temperature,” Dr. Dasgupta explains. “A cool environment helps that process and makes it easier to fall asleep.” The ideal room temperature for an average adult for great sleep is between 60 and 67°F. But if you can’t get the thermostat that low, there are several mattresses that can help.

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Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers

Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid Mattress

Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress

Tuft & Needle Original Hybrid Mattress

Now 25% Off

Best Cooling Latex Mattress

Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress

Now 12% Off

The Leesa Sapira Chill is my own personal favorite mattress that has kept me cool for the last three years. The brand says the mattress’s smart fibers are “like having your very own personalized climate control,” and that’s been exactly my experience. It also has the honor of being chosen our best cooling mattress for side sleepers, best cooling mattress for back sleepers, and best cooling mattress for stomach sleepers—meaning, it doesn’t matter which position you sleep in; it’ll work for you.

For those who prefer a memory foam mattress, our experts suggest the Tuft & Needle Memory Foam mattress. It is designed with two foam layers—a high-density base to keep your body aligned, topped with an adaptive foam layer that’s built to cradle pressure points. According to the brand, this mattress is infused with cooling gel to help draw excess heat away from your body as you sleep.

Latex is another great option for a cooling mattress, and this Latex Hybrid from Saatva is also an editor favorite. Made from organic natural latex with vented airflow channels, this mattress provides a buoyant feel with enhanced breathability that suits even the hottest sleepers. “If you are searching for excellent and uplifting support, or are a hot sleeper in need of a firm, breathable mattress, the Latex Hybrid is for you,” contributing writer Tina Martinez says.

Even if you have the most luxurious mattress in the world, if it isn’t keeping you supported and aligned, you are likely experiencing joint pain—especially in your shoulder, back, or hips, explains Dr. Dasgupta. “Comfort is usually subjective, but spinal alignment is not, so it is important to think about when purchasing a mattress,” he adds.

Best Mattress for Back Pain

Saatva Saatva Rx Mattress

Now 11% Off

Best Mattress for Hip Pain

Sleep Number Comfort Next Adjustable Mattress

Now 15% Off

Best Pain-Relief for Side Sleepers

Purple Original Mattress

Now 20% Off

To keep his joints aligned and supported, Creative Director Bruce Perez favors the Saatva Rx. “Its well-thought-out mix of pressure relief and support really helps with spinal alignment,” he wrote. “The lumbar support, which feels great on the lower back, is a unique feature that hits in just the right place. This region of the mattress has extra memory foam, so it offers stronger support without feeling too stiff.”

Need a mattress for reducing your hip pain? An adjustable mattress can help. Our Executive Director Stephanie Dolgoff is a huge fan of her Comfort Next mattress from Sleep Number, which utilizes number levels to fine tune your mattress firmness to exactly your preferred level. During testing she wrote: “I felt less pain [in my hip] upon waking at 60, but after a few days upped it to 70. Pure magic. I felt almost no pain at 70. Not only that, but I was far less stiff and could stand up immediately upon waking. My conclusion is that my customized support helped my joints rest while still being comfortable and likely helped subside inflammation and strain.”

Those who sleep on their sides are likely to feel joint pain, due to being out of alignment. So our pros recommend the Purple Original Mattress as the best for side sleepers with joint pain. These mattresses are made with a grid system that supports your entire body, eliminating some of those common side sleeping pain spots like the shoulder and hip.

We spoke to Raj Dasgupta, M.D., a quadruple board-certified physician, who specializes in sleep, and pulled together expert information and accolades on our existing mattress roundups: the best mattresses for side sleepers, the best mattresses for stomach sleepers, and the best mattresses for back pain to bring you advice on which mattress suits your sleep type and sleep needs. We also compiled editor reviews with rigorous testing on the Saatva Classic, the Saatva Rx, the Saatva Latex Hybrid, the Leesa Sapira Chill, the Sleep Number Comfort Next, and the Avocado Green Mattress for first-person testing experience, as well.

Since mattresses are one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make for your home, it’s often worth holding out for a major sale to secure the best price possible. Sale weekends for mattresses include Labor Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday.