Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress for Side Sleepers

Tempur-Pedic is a mattress company that is well-known for popularizing the use of memory foam comfort layers in beds. Since memory foam is known for its pressure-relieving hug, Tempur-Pedic’s models are popular with side sleepers. However, each model has distinct advantages that may appeal to certain sleepers.

Side Sleeping Explained

For many individuals, side sleeping is the most comfortable sleep position. It can carry a wide array of potential benefits, including:

• Reduced pain. When sleeping on a mattress that strikes the right balance of support and contouring, many individuals report less back and joint pain.
• Reduced snoring. Side sleeping usually leads to less airway compression and obstruction than back sleeping, so many sleepers snore less when sleeping on their sides.
• Less heartburn. Sleeping on the left side tends to ease heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. This is because the stomach is slightly to the left, and gravity helps keep stomach acid from migrating into the esophagus when you lie on your left side.
• Increased blood flow. Sleeping on the left side is also thought to improve circulation by limiting pressure on the blood vessels that return blood to your heart.

While side sleeping is usually beneficial for most sleepers, a few potential drawbacks can arise.

• Shoulder pain. Sleeping on a mattress without enough contouring could lead to more shoulder pain. This is in part because the mattress could force the shoulder underneath you up towards your neck and out of alignment.
• Neck pain. Side sleeping without a sufficiently supportive pillow could contribute to neck pain, so most side sleepers should select the best pillow that has enough loft to keep their neck straight. Sleeping in the fetal position could also lead to neck and back pain.
• Arm numbness. The arm that is positioned under the body may tingle or go numb as a result of the weight of the body compressing it.

To maximize the benefits and limit the drawbacks, side sleepers may want to sleep on their left side with a supportive pillow that fills the gap between their neck and the mattress. A mattress with the ideal balance of contouring and support can also help.

What to Consider in a Tempur-Pedic Mattress for Side Sleepers

As noted above, sleeping on your side carries potential benefits and drawbacks that may affect which mattress is the best choice for you. As a side sleeper’s hips and shoulders are usually the widest parts of their body, pressure buildup is common. Side sleepers may also struggle to maintain their spinal alignment, which can put pressure on their lumbar region. Knowing what to look for as you shop for a Tempur-Pedic mattress can help you ensure you select a model that meets your needs and preferences.

What to Look for in a Mattress for Side Sleepers

Regardless of your sleep position, some traits tend to be most important when selecting a mattress. Side sleepers should also take their way of sleeping into account to find the best mattress for them. Mattress companies sometimes use misleading words and phrases, like “universal comfort,” but what is comfortable for others may not be best for side sleepers.

When mattress companies claim that their mattress is comfortable for every sleeper, that usually just means that it is a mid-range firmness that can accommodate the needs of most sleepers. However, side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds and those that weigh over 230 pounds may rest more comfortably on softer or firmer models respectively.

Tempur-Pedic offers a range of mattress models, so there’s something for virtually any side sleeper. Focusing on the following traits may make it easier to select the best option for you.

Pressure Relief
Pressure relief tends to be especially important for side sleepers because their hips and shoulders usually put more pressure on the mattress than the rest of their bodies. With some models, this can lead to aches and pains from sharp pressure points. Mattresses crafted for pressure relief redistribute your weight, taking pressure off your hips and shoulders. However, finding the ideal balance between pressure relief and support also requires selecting the right firmness.

Firmness Level
Since firmness is directly linked to pressure relief, side sleepers often benefit from basing their firmness selection on their body type. Individuals who weigh less than 130 pounds typically prefer beds around a medium soft (4) or softer. Those who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds usually like a medium (5) to medium firm (6) model. Side sleepers who weigh over 230 may be best served by a medium firm (6) or firm (7-8) mattress. Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft could allow a side sleeper’s hips and shoulders to sink in excessively, putting a strain on their spine. However, a model that is too firm may not let the hips and shoulders sink in enough, which could lead to more pressure buildup.

Contouring
Contouring is how the mattress shapes to your body. Mattresses that contour well let a side sleeper’s hips and shoulder sink in while supporting proper spinal alignment. When a mattress adjusts to the sleeper’s body, it also typically limits pressure buildup by spreading out their weight more evenly.

Price
For many shoppers, the price may be a key factor in which mattress they ultimately select. Tempur-Pedic produces luxury mattresses, so they tend to be higher in price than many models. However, buyers shouldn’t look at the price point alone. Due to their quality construction, Tempur-Pedic mattresses may last longer than some lower-priced models, which could make them a better value over the life of the mattress.

Quality Materials
A mattress’s materials determine its performance and durability. Quality materials usually last better over time, so side sleepers should be able to enjoy contouring and support for years to come. Lower quality materials may be more likely to break down, sag, or retain lasting impressions. As a luxury mattress manufacturer, Tempur-Pedic mattresses are prized for their quality materials.

Edge Support
Side sleepers who like to sit or sleep near the perimeter of the bed may prefer a mattress with good edge support. All-foam models typically do not have reinforced edges, so there may be some sinkage around the perimeter. This is especially likely with softer models. Some sleepers may feel insecure when they sit or sleep near the edge, limiting the usable mattress surface. Hybrid and innerspring models generally have superior edge support, so sleepers who need solid edge support will want to consider Tempur-Pedic’s hybrid models.

Temperature Regulation
If you tend to sleep hot during the night, you may prefer a mattress with strong temperature regulation. Memory foam has a reputation for retaining heat, but many manufacturers have adjusted their designs to counteract this. While each of Tempur-Pedic’s mattresses uses some cooling technology, the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-breeze° has enhanced cooling features that may appeal to hot sleepers.

Ease of Movement
Some mattress models are easier to move around on than others. People with mobility issues and those who toss and turn during the night often prefer models that do not restrict their movement. Due to its close hug and relatively slow response to changes in pressure, memory foam is the material most often associated with low ease of movement scores. However, many models with memory foam still perform well enough in this category, especially if they have a firmer feel.

Mattress Type
The type of mattress influences its performance, pricing, and durability. Most mattresses on the market today are either foam, latex, hybrid, or innerspring. Depending on the model’s unique construction, any of these options may be appropriate for side sleepers. However, many side sleepers gravitate towards foam, latex, or hybrid models for the conforming and pressure relief of their comfort systems. Tempur-Pedic produces foam and hybrid models.

Other Considerations for Side Sleepers

Weight: A sleeper’s weight plays a role in how a mattress feels, but this is often particularly true for side sleepers. In general, individuals who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds usually prefer a medium to medium firm model. Those that weigh less tend to like a softer option, while those that weigh more generally favor a firmer feel. If the mattress is too firm for a side sleeper’s weight group, they may not sink in enough to enjoy pressure-relieving contouring. However, if it is too soft for their weight group, their hips and shoulders may dip too deeply into the mattress and put a strain on their lumbar region.

Pelvic Rotation: Side sleepers should pay attention to how they position themselves to avoid pelvic rotation. Some side sleepers tend to twist their bodies, which can rotate their pelvis and put their spine out of alignment. Sleeping with the legs fully extended usually helps minimize pelvic rotation.

Shoulder Pain: Side sleepers may experience shoulder pain for a number of reasons. It can occur as a result of pressure buildup from sleeping on a mattress without enough contouring. Additionally, the shoulder underneath your body may also collapse against the mattress, pushing it up towards your neck and potentially straining the area.

What is a Tempur-Pedic Mattress?

Tempur-Pedic is the pioneer of the memory foam mattress. It developed its special TEMPUR material based on foam developed by NASA for spacecraft seats. Since then, Tempur-Pedic has developed several variations on its standard material engineered for pressure relief, motion isolation, and durability. The main product line consists of five models, including the TEMPUR-Cloud, the TEMPUR-Adapt, the TEMPUR-ProAdapt, the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt, and the TEMPUR-breeze°.

Each mattress has slight variations in its materials and design based on its intended firmness and performance, but they tend to use the same basic structure. Tempur-Pedic does not publicly release many specifics about its mattress construction, but customers can typically expect the following.

• Cover: Most Tempur-Pedic mattress covers are breathable to help keep the sleep surface cool. Many models have removable, machine-washable covers for easy cleaning.
• Comfort Layer: The comfort layer typically consists of TEMPUR memory foam. Depending on the model and firmness, this may be TEMPUR, TEMPUR-ES, TEMPUR-APR, or TEMPUR-CM+. Underneath the comfort layer, there is generally a second layer of memory foam that adds contouring and helps prevent the sleeper from sinking in against the mattress core.
• Support Core: All-foam Tempur-Pedic mattresses have a polyfoam core to support the sleep surface. Hybrid models have coil cores that add bounce, breathability, and edge support.

Current Tempur-Pedic Mattress Models

Model	Type	Firmness	Price
TEMPUR-Cloud	All-Foam	Medium (5)	$1,999
TEMPUR-Adapt	All-Foam, Hybrid	Medium (5)	$2,199
TEMPUR-ProAdapt	All-Foam, Hybrid	Soft (2-3), Medium (5), Firm (7-8)	$2,999
TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt	All-Foam	Soft (2-3), Firm (7-8)	$3,699
TEMPUR-PRObreeze°	All-Foam, Hybrid	Medium (5)	$3,999
TEMPUR-LUXEbreeze°	All-Foam	Soft (2-3), Firm (7-8)	$4,699

Are Tempur-Pedic Mattresses Best for Side Sleepers?

Tempur-Pedic mattresses are often ideal for side sleepers. The company’s innovative memory foam materials excel in pressure relief. Side sleepers often experience sharp pressure points due to their hips and shoulders putting direct force on the mattress, so pressure relief is frequently a high priority for this group.

Our picks are particularly well suited to side sleeping because of their balance between contouring and support. One of these options should be a good fit for most side sleepers, regardless of their body types and sleep styles. However, finding the best Tempur-Pedic mattress for you requires some consideration into these factors.

Those who weigh under 130 pounds will likely prefer one of Tempur-Pedic’s softer options. Individuals between 130 and 230 pounds should sleep comfortably on a medium model. People who weigh more than 230 pounds may get the extra support they need from one of Tempur-Pedic’s firm options.

Performance varies slightly between models, so shoppers should take their priorities into account when choosing a Tempur-Pedic mattress. Side sleepers prone to overheating during the night may prefer the enhanced cooling of the TEMPUR-breeze°. Those looking for extra bounce or edge support might want to go with one of Tempur-Pedic’s hybrid options.

How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science

Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.

In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.

How We Determine Our Overall Scores

To determine a mattress’s overall score, we assign weighted percentages to performance categories based on how important they are to the individual sleep experience. For instance, areas like pressure relief and temperature control tend to matter more to people than something like off-gassing, and because more people sleep on their side and back than on their stomach, we weigh those positions more heavily.

Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides by Sleeper Type

If you’re still not sure if a Tempur-Pedic mattress would be the best fit, you can check out our collection of mattress guides broken down by types of sleepers.

Last Things to Consider with a Tempur-Pedic Mattress for Side Sleepers

Before you buy a Tempur-Pedic mattress, you may still have some lingering questions. We’ll answer some of the most common questions you may have to help you make your purchase more confidently.

Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Side Sleepers?

Tempur-Pedic has several firmness options, each of which may be best for some side sleepers. As a general rule, the best firmness for side sleepers will depend on their weight. Those who weigh less than 130 pounds will experience more contouring on one of Tempur-Pedic’s soft options. People who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds are likely to prefer one of Tempur-Pedic’s medium options. Individuals who weigh over 230 may like a firm Tempur-Pedic so that their hips and shoulders don’t sink in too deeply.

What Other Products Does Tempur-Pedic Offer?

In addition to its popular mattresses, Tempur-Pedic also produces other sleep products, like sheets, pillows, toppers, blankets, bases, sleep masks, and slippers. The company also offers other products that include the proprietary TEMPUR material, including stuffed animals and cushions.

How Much do Tempur-Pedic Mattresses Cost?

A Tempur-Pedic queen mattress ranges in price from around $2,000 to over $4,000. Since this is higher than the average cost for a new mattress, some shoppers may find these prices surprising. However, these are luxury models with high-quality materials that should last longer than many mattresses on the market, so a Tempur-Pedic mattress could ultimately cost less per year of use than some lower-priced models.

How Durable Are Tempur-Pedic Mattresses?

Tempur-Pedic mattresses are typically more durable than many memory foam models on the market. Some mattresses develop lasting sagging or impressions over time, limiting how long side sleepers can enjoy them. However, Tempur-Pedic’s high-quality materials usually resist indentations. While we would typically expect a memory foam mattress to last for 6.5 to 7 years, we would expect most Tempur-Pedic mattresses to last for at least 7 years.

Mattress Warranty and Other Policies

Tempur-Pedic mattresses purchased directly through the company come with a 90-night sleep trial and 10-year limited warranty. To be eligible to return the mattress, customers must first try it for at least 30 nights. Customers may incur a $175 shipping fee for returns. The warranty provides for the repair or replacement of mattresses with qualifying defects. The owner is responsible for transportation costs. Additional terms and conditions apply.