Buying guide

Best mattresses for side sleepers to compare

Compare five Mattress Online mattresses for side sleepers by construction, firmness, price and practical fit rather than assuming one type suits everyone.

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Last verified: 2026-08-14

Quick verdict

This is a category comparison, not a single best pick. The shortlist brings together Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress (£205-£305), Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress (£254-£498) and Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress (£284-£544), so you can weigh pocket sprung, memory foam and hybrid feel against the current price spread of roughly £158-£389 in the featured set. For side sleepers, the useful question is whether you want more contouring at the shoulder and hip or a more responsive feel that still keeps support balanced.

Top picks to compare

Start with Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress (£205-£305), Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress (£254-£498), Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress (£284-£544) because they give you a focused set of current retailer options to compare. The visible price range is £158-£679, so check whether the extra spend buys a useful specification difference rather than only a different brand or finish. The shortlist includes Aspire, Bodyshape, which helps you compare familiar brands against specification, delivery and value.

Available Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress

Aspire · Pocket Sprung

Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress

from £205-£305.

£205-£305

Sizes tracked: Small Single, Single, Small Double, Double, King Size

Available Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress

Bodyshape · Pocket Sprung

Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress

from £254-£498.

£254-£498

Sizes tracked: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King

Available Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress

Bodyshape · Hybrid

Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress

from £284-£544.

£284-£544

Sizes tracked: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King

Available Bodyshape Ultra Ortho 1500 Pocket Mattress

Bodyshape · Pocket Sprung · Firm

Bodyshape Ultra Ortho 1500 Pocket Mattress

from £389-£679.

£389-£679

Sizes tracked: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King

Available Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho Mattress

Bodyshape · Memory Foam · Firm

Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho Mattress

from £158-£305.

£158-£305

Sizes tracked: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King

At-a-glance comparison

Use this table to scan the shortlist quickly before opening individual product pages. It covers Pocket Sprung, Hybrid, Memory Foam, so compare like-for-like where possible before deciding which mattress best fits your usual sleep position, preferred firmness and bed-frame size. Firmness differences include Firm; Firmness differences can matter as much as headline price when you are matching a product to a specific need.

ProductTypeFirmnessSizesFrom
Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted MattressPocket SprungCheck retailerSmall Single, Single, Small Double, Double, King Size£205
Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory MattressPocket SprungCheck retailerSingle, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King£254
Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid MattressHybridCheck retailerSingle, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King£284
Bodyshape Ultra Ortho 1500 Pocket MattressPocket SprungFirmSingle, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King£389
Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho MattressMemory FoamFirmSingle, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King£158

What the research suggests for side sleepers

Public buying guides consistently frame side-sleeper comfort around shoulder and hip pressure relief plus spinal alignment, which is why medium-feel mattresses often appear in this category. On Mattress Online, that shows up in the Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress at £205-£305 with a medium firmness rating, 100-night comfort trial and 5-year guarantee, alongside the Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress at £284-£544 with a medium firmness rating and 5-year guarantee. No active testing was performed for this page, so treat the shortlist as a practical comparison set and verify the live firmness, depth and size details on the retailer page before buying.

Buyer trade-offs to compare

The main trade-off is between contouring and responsiveness. The Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress may appeal if you want a more enveloping feel, while the Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress and Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress lean toward a spring-supported feel with different comfort layers. Also compare the practical extras: Aspire shows a 100-night comfort trial and a 5-year guarantee, Bodyshape Boost shows a 1-year guarantee, and the Gel 2000 also shows a 5-year guarantee, so the confidence terms are not identical even before you look at price, depth or delivery.

Why these five mattresses made the shortlist

The shortlist contains 5 mattresses from 2 brands, Aspire and Bodyshape, and covers 3 product types: Pocket Sprung, Hybrid and Memory Foam. That mix is useful because side sleepers often need to compare more than one construction before deciding which comfort layer and support feel suit them best. It is a comparison set, not a final ranking: the wide spread in price, firmness and construction means the right choice depends on shoulder give, support feel, size availability and the live retailer details on each product page.

Shortlist benchmark

Across the current set, visible prices run from £158 to £679, with the featured comparison range tighter at £158-£389. The named models include Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress, Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress, Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress, Bodyshape Ultra Ortho 1500 Pocket Mattress and Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho Mattress. Medium firmness appears on the Aspire, Boost and Gel models, while the Ultra Ortho and Vitality options are firm, so side sleepers should check carefully before assuming a firmer model will suit the shoulder and hip area.

How to choose between these mattresses

Start by matching the mattress to your usual sleep position and preferred feel. If you want more sink and contouring, the Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress is the obvious memory-foam-led comparison point; if you want more spring response, compare the Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress and Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress first. Then check depth, because the retailer notes that mattress depth can affect bedding, toppers and bed-frame compatibility, and confirm the size you need because the range differs by product, from Small Single on the Aspire to Super King on several Bodyshape models.

Value for money

Value here is about what each price buys, not just the cheapest ticket. The Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho Mattress starts from £158 and may look attractive on price, but it is firm, so it is not automatically the best match for a side sleeper who wants more shoulder give. By contrast, the Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress sits at £205-£305 and includes a 100-night comfort trial plus a 5-year guarantee, which may justify paying more if you want a more flexible return window and a more balanced spec.

Retailer details used

Last checked 2026-08-14. The source list below is included to help you check the details behind the comparison. Always confirm the latest price, delivery cost, stock status and product details with the retailer before buying.

Buying questions

Which type of mattress is usually best for side sleepers: hybrid, memory foam or pocket sprung?

There is no single answer for every side sleeper. Memory foam can give more contouring, pocket sprung can feel more responsive, and hybrids try to balance both, so the better choice depends on how much shoulder and hip give you want.

How important are firmness and mattress depth when choosing a side-sleeper mattress?

Very important. The retailer guidance notes that depth affects bedding and bed-frame fit, while firmness changes how much the shoulders and hips can sink in. Medium options like the Aspire Pocket+ 1000 or Bodyshape Gel 2000 may suit some shoppers better than the firm ortho models.

Is the cheapest mattress in the shortlist the best value?

Not necessarily. The Bodyshape Vitality Memory Foam Ortho Mattress starts from £158, but it is firm, so it may suit a different buyer than a side sleeper who wants more contouring. Compare the price with firmness, guarantee length and size availability before deciding.

Do the trial, guarantee and delivery terms differ between these Mattress Online picks?

Yes. The Aspire Pocket+ 1000 Tufted Mattress shows a 100-night comfort trial and 5-year guarantee, the Bodyshape Boost 1000 Pocket Memory Mattress shows a 1-year guarantee, and the Bodyshape Gel 2000 Pocket Hybrid Mattress shows a 5-year guarantee. Free delivery to most locations and old mattress removal are mentioned on the retailer pages, but you should still check the live terms.

Why is this a shortlist comparison rather than a single best mattress recommendation?

Because the five mattresses cover different constructions, firmness levels and price points. For side sleepers, those differences matter more than a simple ranking, so this page is designed to help you compare the trade-offs and pick the mattress that fits your sleep style, frame and budget.