Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Canada: Our Top Picks (2026)

Douglas Alpine is our top pick for the best mattress for side sleepers, based on third-party engineer testing (commissioned by us). In fact, Douglas’s high scores earn their mattresses a top spot on our list of the best mattresses in Canada.

This upgraded combination foam mattress provides exceptional pressure-point relief for side sleepers. Douglas Alpine is also packed with cooling materials that help dissipate heat while you sleep, like cooling gel foam and phase-change material.

Douglas Alpine has a sturdy base made of high-density support foam for lower back support and spinal alignment, along with very good edge support and excellent motion isolation. This mattress shapes itself around your body for comfort and alignment, while delivering pressure-point relief and cushioning.

Alpine received top scores for its use of high-quality materials and excellent value for $999 for a queen size.

A medium-firm foam mattress like Douglas Alpine is ideal for side sleepers. Its pressure-relieving comfort and cooling features help keep you supported and comfortable all night long.

Some side sleepers also don’t enjoy the “sink” or “hug” of a typical foam mattress, which is why a true medium-firm mattress like Douglas is ideal. It combines the pressure-point relief of foam with just the right amount of hug, so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the mattress.

Douglas Alpine features upgraded cooling with gel foam and phase-change material, along with strong edge support and motion isolation. Your purchase also comes with a free bedding bundle, all for just $999 for a queen size.

If you’re a side sleeper with shoulder and hip pain, pick a combination memory foam mattress like Octave Vista. It features ergonomic zoned support that supports your hips while alleviating pressure points on your shoulders. Plus, antimicrobial copper-infused memory foam contours your body, balances your body temperature throughout the night, and promotes a clean sleep environment. Octave is available at an affordable price of just $1,099 for a queen size.

Have a little extra room in your budget? Take a look at Octave Horizon, the most upgraded mattress in the Octave line. It includes the most features to promote restorative sleep with targeted pressure-point relief, spinal alignment support, and ample motion isolation to help you sleep deeply throughout the night. Horizon also has the most advanced cooling features of any mattress we’ve tested, including a moisture-wicking cover with cooling nanofibres, a breathable latex layer, and gel foam with temperature-balancing phase-change material. Get a lot more for a slightly higher price of $1,599 for a queen size.

If you live with back pain, you might like the Octave Vista mattress, our highest-rated mattress for back pain. Octave earned this title thanks to its strong engineer test scores (that we commissioned), zoned support, high customer ratings, and company policies. Even more importantly, 88% of Octave customers with back pain reported that their Octave mattress helped relieve their pain.

Octave provides zoned support and cushioning at your shoulders and hips to relieve pressure, keep your spine properly aligned, and alleviate back pain, encouraging restful, restorative sleep. Its medium-firm feel is ideal for side sleepers, including those who are heavier. Vista also contains premium Elastex® foam, which mimics the supportive and responsive properties of natural latex foam—ideal for those with lower back pain—without the high price tag associated with many natural latex mattresses. Get a queen-size Octave Vista for just $1,099.

READ MORE: Best sleeping positions for back pain

Logan & Cove Choice, rated the Best Luxury Hybrid Mattress by Canadian Living, is our top pick for the best mattress for heavy sleepers, including side sleepers.

If you feel like you sink too far into foam mattresses, we think you’ll like the supportive feel of a hybrid mattress. Logan & Cove Choice offers a 3-zone support system with up to 1,152 individually wrapped pocket coils, depending on the size, for targeted support and spinal alignment. You can expect to sleep better with comfortably supported shoulders and hips.

Logan & Cove Choice has cooling foams, a cushioned top cover, a 365-night sleep trial, and a 15-year warranty. It’s also more accessibly priced than many hybrid mattresses in Canada at just $1,199 for a queen size.

Douglas Alpine is the best mattress for side sleepers and costs only $999 for a queen size. For that price, you get a perfectly medium-firm feel, excellent edge support, superior motion isolation, and advanced cooling features like gel foam and phase-change material. You’ll also enjoy the 365-night sleep trial, 15-year warranty, and free bedding bundle with purchase.

According to experts, a medium-firm mattress is commonly favoured by most side sleepers. However, the ideal firmness for someone can also depend on whether they are a lighter or heavier individual. Lighter-weight individuals exert less pressure on their mattress, so they won’t sink as much into the surface as a heavier-weight individual, and thus prefer a softer feel, closer to a medium mattress.

READ MORE: What mattress firmness is right for you?

Hip discomfort when side sleeping can occur due to excessive pressure on the hip in this position, especially if the mattress is too firm and doesn’t provide enough pressure relief.

Hence, one of the best ways to reduce hip pain at night if you’re a side sleeper is to ensure your mattress provides enough cushioning for your body to sink in and relieve pressure points. A medium-firm mattress is ideal for most sleepers for this reason. Another option is to place a pillow between your knees to better align your hips.

Some preventive and therapeutic measures that Dr. Keung recommends are using ice to reduce inflammation, applying heat to relax tight muscles before bed, and adding some hip stretches to your routine. If your hip pain persists, you should consult a medical professional for further advice.

Sleeping on either side will provide most of the benefits of side sleeping (such as pressure-point relief and spinal alignment) for the majority of people, but there are some recommendations:

• Sleeping on your left side can be more beneficial during pregnancy (which is strongly recommended by doctors), and for those with acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD.
• Sleeping on your right side may be more beneficial for those with heart conditions, as sleeping on the left side may cause shortness of breath for those with heart failure.

Side sleepers benefit most from a softer, higher-loft pillow to help keep their head and neck aligned for proper spinal alignment. According to Dr. James, “pillow height plays a critical role in maintaining neutral spinal alignment during side sleeping, as it must bridge the gap between the shoulder and head while supporting the cervical spine”.

Studies show that optimal pillow height varies based on individual body dimensions, such as shoulder width, and improper loft can disrupt spinal alignment and increase strain on the neck and shoulders. A pillow like the Douglas Adjustable Memory Foam pillow is a good choice, letting you adjust the loft to achieve a perfect height for your needs.

READ MORE: Our list of top-ranked pillows in Canada

The key to sleeping comfortably on your side is to have supportive pillows for your head and between your legs. A supportive head pillow for side sleepers is soft yet tall (aka high loft), and supports the “shoulder gap,” the space between your neck and shoulder. This helps keep the upper spine aligned, reducing neck pain and tension in your upper back. A pillow between your legs not only helps reduce strain on your knees but also keeps your shoulder and hip in contact with the bed, with the shoulder and hip facing up, maintaining a neutral spine.

Sleeping on a supportive yet pressure-relieving mattress, like a Douglas Alpine, also helps with comfortable side sleeping.

Yes, side sleeping is commonly considered a healthy sleeping position that helps maintain spinal alignment, protects your back, and reduces back pain. However, Dr. Keung reminds that “appropriate support is necessary to distribute body weight evenly and reduce stress at key pressure points such as the shoulders and hips.”

This includes using a pillow with the correct height to keep the neck in a neutral position, placing a pillow between the knees to maintain pelvic alignment and reduce strain on the hips and lower back, and choosing a supportive medium-firm mattress that balances pressure relief with spinal support.

Mattresses fall into many different categories. Each has different characteristics that are a good fit for a variety of sleep styles. Here are just a few types of mattresses:

• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine innerspring layers with foam or latex for a perfect pairing of contour and support. They tend to have better edge support and lower temperatures than memory foam, but this comes with reduced motion isolation for a slightly less peaceful sleep. (Shopping for a hybrid? Check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses.)
• Cooling Gel Foam: Some sleepers find normal memory foam too hot, so cooling gel foam mattresses like Douglas can be a great alternative. This type of mattress combines memory foam with cooling gel to keep temperatures comfortable while you sleep.
• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses support your weight with metal coils. This makes the mattress bouncy and provides good edge support, but you might find this type of mattress less comfortable if your body needs more contouring.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses like Octave “hug” your body to relieve pressure and keep your spine aligned. They often incorporate zoned support, which can help relieve sore joints and provide other health benefits. In fact, the brand states that 86% of customers suffering from back pain said Octave helped reduce their pain.
• Latex: Natural or synthetic latex mattresses can relieve pressure in any sleep position. They have a reputation for comfortable temperatures and can last longer than other types of mattresses. However, latex mattresses can also be more expensive and may not be ideal for some people with latex allergies.

When you’re choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider more than just how comfortable it is. There is a whole range of factors to keep in mind, which we list below. (And when you’re ready to buy, make sure you buy a mattress online vs. in store.)

• Budget: Set a budget for your new mattress and stick to it. You might even be able to make this budget go further by finding limited-time deals and promotions online.
• Construction: Figure out what type of mattress you want, whether it’s foam, hybrid, or innerspring. There are pros and cons for each construction style, and knowing what you want will help narrow down your options.
• Firmness: Choose a mattress with the right firmness level for your sleep style—that is, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach. For example, side sleepers often want a softer mattress, while back sleepers may prefer something firmer. (Did you know that a medium-firm feel is ideal for most sleep styles? Get our guide to the best medium-firm mattresses.)
• Pressure-Point Relief: Got achy joints? How about a sore back? If you do, look for a mattress with enhanced pressure-point relief so you sleep better at night. Octave Vista comes with five body-contouring support zones to aid in your body’s natural recovery and help you wake up pain-free the next day.
• Motion Isolation: Pay close attention to motion isolation if you share your bed with a partner, kids, or pets. The higher the isolation score, the less you’ll notice movement from the other side of the bed.
• Edge Support: Are you in the habit of sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed? Look for a mattress with good edge support so you feel supported in any position.
• Bounce: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you might prefer a mattress with extra bounce. (Your inner child will enjoy it, too!)
• Contouring: Contouring materials like memory foam help support your body in all the right places. That said, too much “hug” can cause overheating and make it hard to move, so find the level of contouring that’s best for your body.
• Temperature: Speaking of overheating—if you’re a warm sleeper, look for a mattress that promotes airflow and reduces heat. Look for a mattress with cooling gel foam and other cooling technologies.
• Responsiveness: A responsive mattress allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. Often found in hybrid designs, a responsive mattress can help you enjoy certain activities in bed even more.
• Noise: Nobody likes a squeaky or crinkly mattress. Get a quiet night’s sleep with a mattress made from noise-quieting materials like foam or latex.
• Company Policies: Get details about the manufacturer’s sleep trial, return policy, and product warranty so you know what you’re getting into.