There is something wonderfully natural about sleeping on your side. You curl up, settle into your favourite position and, hopefully, drift off without another thought.

But side sleeping does ask a little more from your mattress. Your shoulders and hips tend to take more of your body weight, so the right mattress needs to offer enough cushioning to feel comfortable without losing the support you need underneath.

So, what actually makes a mattress feel good when you sleep on your side? And should you choose memory foam, pocket springs or a hybrid? Let's take a more relaxed look at what really matters.

What makes a mattress good for side sleeping?

When you sleep on your side, your body isn't lying evenly across the mattress in the same way it does when you're on your back. The shoulders and hips naturally sit further out from the rest of the body, creating more concentrated areas of pressure.

This is why a mattress that feels wonderfully supportive to a back sleeper can sometimes feel a little unforgiving to a side sleeper.

Generally, side sleepers tend to enjoy a surface with some cushioning. The mattress should have enough give for the shoulders and hips to settle comfortably, while the underlying support keeps the body from sinking excessively.

That doesn't automatically mean choosing the softest mattress you can find. A softer mattress may feel inviting initially, but the right choice depends on your body weight, preferred sleep feel and the construction of the mattress itself.

Is a medium-soft mattress best for side sleepers?

Medium-soft is often a natural starting point for side sleepers because it offers more cushioning than a medium or firm mattress. It can create that slightly cushioned, comfortable feeling around the shoulders and hips without feeling completely loose underneath.

A medium-soft mattress can be particularly appealing if you are lighter in weight or simply prefer a softer, more enveloping feel.

Medium can also be an excellent choice. If you are a side sleeper who dislikes sinking into the mattress, a medium surface can provide a little more resistance while still allowing some cushioning at the shoulders and hips.

In other words, there isn't one firmness number that works for every side sleeper. Think of firmness as part of the overall feel rather than the whole story.

Your body shape and weight matter too

Two people can lie on exactly the same mattress and experience it very differently.

A lighter sleeper may find a firm mattress noticeably firmer because there is less body weight pressing into the comfort layers. Someone heavier may experience the same mattress as softer because they sink further into its upper layers.

Your proportions matter as well. If you have broader shoulders or hips, you may appreciate a mattress with more cushioning and contouring.

This is one reason mattress labels should be treated as a useful starting point rather than an absolute rule.

Memory foam, pocket springs or hybrid?

The material beneath you can make a surprisingly big difference to how side sleeping feels.

Memory foam tends to have a closer, more enveloping feel. It responds to your body and can provide noticeable cushioning around the shoulders and hips.

Pocket springs feel more responsive. Because the springs work independently, they can provide a little more bounce and movement beneath you, while softer fillings or comfort layers can make the surface feel more welcoming to side sleepers.

Then there are hybrids, which bring the two together. A hybrid can combine pocket springs with memory foam or other comfort materials, creating a balance between responsiveness and cushioning.

If you're unsure where to start, our hybrid mattress guide explores the construction in more detail.

A few mattresses worth considering

There is no single mattress that every side sleeper will love. Instead, here are three very different options from the Mattress365 range, each offering a slightly different take on side-sleeping comfort.

What about your shoulders and hips?

This is probably the biggest difference between side sleeping and other positions.

Your shoulder and hip are naturally closer to the mattress than the narrower parts of your waist and torso. If the surface is very firm, you may notice pressure around those areas rather than feeling comfortably supported.

A mattress with suitable cushioning allows those areas to settle into the comfort layers rather than simply pressing against the surface.

This is where materials such as memory foam, soft latex, quilted fillings and plush comfort layers can make a noticeable difference to the overall feel.

Don't forget about your pillow

A great mattress can only do so much if your pillow isn't working with it.

Side sleepers usually need more height from a pillow than back sleepers because the pillow needs to fill the space between the head and the mattress created by the shoulder.

If your pillow is too low, your head may feel as though it is dropping towards the mattress. If it is too high, you may feel as though your head is being pushed upwards.

Your mattress and pillow work together, so if you're changing one, it's worth considering the other too. Our side sleeper mattress advice also covers pillow considerations in more detail.

How do you know if your mattress is too firm?

Sometimes the easiest way to judge a mattress is simply to pay attention to how you feel on it.

If you regularly notice pressure around your shoulder or hip when lying on your side, the surface may feel too unforgiving for your preferred sleep position.

You may also find yourself constantly changing position because you can't settle comfortably in your usual side-sleeping position.

On the other hand, if your mattress feels excessively soft and you feel as though your body is sinking deeply into it, you may prefer something with a little more resistance.

What if you change position during the night?

Very few people stay perfectly still all night.

If you start the night on your side but regularly move onto your back, a medium mattress can sometimes offer a useful compromise. It can provide enough cushioning for side sleeping without feeling excessively soft when you're lying on your back.

Hybrid mattresses can be particularly versatile here because they combine the responsive feel of springs with cushioning materials above them.

If you're a true combination sleeper, it's worth thinking about how you feel in every position rather than choosing a mattress purely around your favourite position.

The most important thing is how it feels to you

Mattress shopping can sometimes become a search for the magic firmness number, the perfect spring count or the latest comfort material.

But side sleeping isn't quite that simple.

Your body, your preferred sleep position, your weight, your pillow and even your tolerance for that familiar “sinking in” feeling all influence what makes a mattress comfortable.

Medium-soft and medium mattresses are often a good starting point for side sleepers, particularly when they combine cushioning comfort with a supportive core. But the best choice is ultimately the one that feels right when you're lying in your natural sleeping position.

And if you're waking regularly with persistent pain or discomfort, it's worth looking beyond the mattress too and speaking to an appropriate healthcare professional rather than assuming the mattress is the sole cause.