Side sleeping is the most common sleep position in Canada, and also the one most mattresses get wrong. Too firm and you wake up with shoulder and hip pain. Too soft and your spine falls out of alignment overnight. The right mattress needs to do both things at once: relieve pressure at the shoulders and hips while keeping the spine properly supported.
We put this list together based on what actually matters for side sleepers. The top spot goes to a Dozy mattress because we stand behind what we make and we know how it performs. The remaining entries are well-regarded Canadian options worth knowing about if you are shopping around.
All Dozy mattresses are made to order in Toronto with a 125-night comfort guarantee and free in-home delivery in 2 to 7 days. Need a custom size or firmness? We can help with that too.
A note on comfort: Comfort is deeply personal. The right firmness depends on your body weight, sleep habits, and how you are built. The best way to find your match is to come in and try it in person. We are at 290 Queen St W in Toronto and you are always welcome to walk in.
- The Richmond by Dozy (top pick for side sleepers)
- Casper Original Hybrid (great hybrid with zoned support)
- Sleep Country's Bed-in-a-Box Brands (Endy, Silk & Snow, Casper — all under one roof)
- Essentia Venti (excellent organic latex option)
- Kingsdown Silent Partner X2 (great premium in-store option)
The Richmond is our latex hybrid and the mattress we point most side sleepers toward. Rated 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, it sits right in the sweet spot for side sleeping: firm enough to keep your spine in line, soft enough to let your shoulders and hips decompress overnight.
At 13 inches, it is built in layers that work together precisely for this sleep position. One inch of Talalay latex on top provides responsive, breathable cushioning without that trapped feeling you get from denser foam. Below that, 2" of open-cell foam and 2" of high-density transition foam handle the shift from comfort to support, sitting above a 1,100 pocket coil base with a reinforced center third. A Euro top finish with a Hollofil quilt and a 60/40 poly-cotton exterior keeps it cool and breathable. The Talalay latex is GOLS certified and the foams carry CertiPUR and OEKO-TEX certifications.
The Richmond is designed specifically with side sleepers in mind, and it also performs well for couples since the pocket coil base limits motion transfer. Custom firmness and size options are available in store.
Casper is the brand that arguably started the mattress-in-a-box movement, and their Original Hybrid remains one of the more thoughtfully engineered options for side sleepers. It is a 12-inch hybrid with a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10), combining memory foam layers with pocketed coils and Casper's signature zoned support system. That zoning puts firmer foam under the hips and lower back, and softer foam under the shoulders, which is genuinely useful for side sleeping.
It features AirScape technology for breathability and comes in one firmness. Testing places it consistently in the good-to-excellent range for pressure relief. At around $1,999 for a queen it is a mid-to-premium price point. Comes with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty when purchased directly through Casper. Note that Casper Canada is now owned by Sleep Country, so purchasing through Sleep Country may come with different return terms.
Sleep Country Canada has quietly acquired the biggest names in the online mattress space over the past several years. What that means for you as a shopper: you can now walk into a Sleep Country location across Toronto and try these formerly online-only brands in person before committing.
It is worth knowing that Endy and Silk & Snow are both owned by Sleep Country, so when you are comparing them you are comparing products from the same parent company. That said, they remain distinct brands with genuinely different constructions and feels.
Canada's most recognized foam mattress. A 10-inch, three-layer all-foam build now available in Plush, Medium-Firm, and Firm. Known for its open-cell polyfoam that maintains a consistent feel regardless of the Canadian seasons. A solid choice for side sleepers who prefer a quieter, body-hugging foam feel. 365-night trial, 15-year warranty.
The eco-conscious choice. Their Hybrid uses 1,200 pocketed coils made from double-tempered Canadian steel with high-density gel memory foam comfort layers, available in Plush, Medium-Firm, and Firm. For side sleepers, the Plush is typically the right call. 365-night trial, 15-year warranty.
The original industry disruptor. Famous for its zoned support technology, which puts firmer foam under the hips and softer foam under the shoulders. A great fit for side sleepers who want engineered ergonomic support. Now triable in person at Sleep Country locations.
Essentia is a Canadian organic mattress brand with a showroom in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood. The Venti is their double-sided organic latex mattress: soft on one side for side sleepers who want maximum pressure relief, firm on the other for back and stomach sleepers. No springs, no polyurethane foam, no synthetic materials of any kind. Just high-density GOLS-certified organic latex throughout.
The soft side is specifically described as ideal for side sleepers due to its deep contouring around the shoulders and hips. The spring-free construction also means virtually zero motion transfer, which is useful for couples. At $2,999 CAD for a queen it is a premium price, but Essentia backs it with a 120-night trial and a 20-year warranty. Made in Canada.
Kingsdown has been building mattresses since 1904 and the Silent Partner X2 is one of their stronger offerings for side sleepers. It is a 13-inch hybrid with a medium feel, combining high-density firm and plush foams with BluTek Gel Visco memory foam for pressure relief. The XTech Support System uses gradient wave coils with reinforced support in the center third, which reduces pressure on the shoulders and hips specifically.
Motion Separation Foam absorbs movement between sleep partners, and XTech Cool Strips use strategically placed graphite to draw heat away from the body overnight. Available through Sleep Country Canada locations across Toronto, which means you can try it in person before buying. At $2,049 CAD it sits at the premium end of the market.
What Side Sleepers Should Look For in a Mattress
Most mattress advice is written for average sleepers. Side sleeping puts specific demands on a mattress that are worth understanding before you buy.
Pressure Relief at the Shoulders and Hips
These are your main contact points when sleeping on your side. A mattress that is too firm will push back against them all night. Look for comfort layers (foam, latex, or micro coils) that allow these areas to sink slightly into the surface.
Enough Support to Keep the Spine Aligned
Pressure relief and support are not the same thing. You need the comfort layer to cushion the pressure points, and the support core (typically coils) to stop the rest of the body from sinking out of alignment.
Medium to Medium-Soft Firmness
Most side sleepers do best in roughly the 5 to 7 range on a 10-point scale. Lighter sleepers tend to need the softer end. Heavier sleepers can often go firmer. Coming in to try is always the best way to know.
A Hybrid If You Can
All-foam mattresses can work well for side sleepers, but a hybrid with pocketed coils gives you better breathability, edge support, and durability. The coil layer also provides more responsive, zoned support than foam alone.
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