The shoulder is the joint with the largest range of motion in the body. Unfortunately, shoulders are prone to injury, and many people experience shoulder pain in their daily lives.
In addition to working with a doctor to understand the cause and treatment of your shoulder pain, finding a comfortable mattress can help relieve pressure on your shoulders and make it easier to get plenty of restorative sleep.
We researched and tested a wide variety of mattress models to bring you the best mattresses for shoulder pain. We focused our tests on mattresses with substantial comfort layers that ease tension and pressure points while helping you maintain spinal alignment regardless of your sleep position.
Find Your Perfect Mattress
We know mattresses work differently for different types of sleepers. Use the filters below to help narrow down your options for your best bed.
Read on to see why the following five options made our top picks list of 2024’s best mattresses for shoulder pain.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall Mattress
WinkBed
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The WinkBed is a durable innerspring mattress that sleeps cool and has noticeable edge support. Four firmness options provide versatile comfort for a wide range of body types and sleep positions. This means anyone with shoulder pain will likely be able to find a WinkBed model with the right level of cushioning and support for their joints.
Buy From WinkBeds
All Sleepers
Medium Soft (4), Medium Firm (6), Firm (7), Firm (8)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Great Value
Pros
- Comes in four firmness levels
- Firmer models offer excellent comfort for sleepers over 230 pounds
- Durable design with strong edge support
Cons
- May not relieve pressure as well as some all-foam beds
- Soft models sacrifice easy movement for added cushioning
- Softer models may not provide enough support for stomach sleepers
The Winkbed is 13.5 inches tall and comes in four firmness levels. We rate the Softer WinkBed as medium soft (4), the Luxury Firm as medium firm (6), the Firmer as firm (7), and the WinkBed Plus as firm (8).
The bed features a quilted Tencel cover and plush Euro-top with gel-infused foam designed to increase breathability. Another layer of polyfoam adds extra cushioning for the shoulders. A thick base of zoned and reinforced pocketed coils provides targeted support.
Why We Like It
The WinkBed is a modern take on the traditional innerspring mattress design. A substantial support core provides strong edge-to-edge support, while the comfort system cushions the shoulders. The WinkBed represents one of the highest-scoring models we tested, and its innerspring design means it may last longer than other beds.
How Does It Feel?
Our sleep testers each found a WinkBed model that offered excellent comfort regardless of their body size and preferred sleep position. The Softer WinkBed worked best for our side and back sleepers under 130 pounds. Our testers who weigh over 230 pounds preferred the sturdy support of Firmer and WinkBed Plus models. As an innerspring, the WinkBed offers more moderate pressure relief than an all-foam model. However, we found that it had above-average performance in nearly every other category, including edge support, temperature control, and durability.
Best Value Mattress
Silk & Snow Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Silk & Snow Mattress’s two-layer comfort system provides above-average pressure relief for aching shoulders. High-quality materials, free shipping, and a reasonable price tag make this bed a great value. However, the medium (5) firmness and deep contouring works best for sleepers under 130 pounds.
Buy From Silk & Snow
Lightweight Sleepers
Medium (5)
Close-Conforming Foam
Great Value
Pros
- Contouring memory foam relieves pressure around the shoulders
- Free shipping and below-average price tag helps people shopping on a budget
- Quiet comfort layers isolate motion well for couples
Cons
- Less support for sleepers over 130 pounds
- Edges will likely sink under weight, making it harder to get in and out of bed
- Foam construction may inhibit some movement
The Silk & Snow is a 10-inch, all-foam mattress with a medium (5) firmness level. The bed features a silver-infused polyester and spandex cover, two inches of contouring, gel-infused memory foam, two inches of polyfoam, and six inches of dense polyfoam for added support.
Why We Like It
The Silk & Snow Mattress’ all-foam design provides great pressure relief for people experiencing shoulder pain. Our team found that the top layer of memory foam conformed well to the heavier parts of their body, while the dense foam support core supported proper alignment.
How Does It Feel?
We found that the medium (5) feel of the Silk & Snow Mattress worked best for our testers who weigh under 130 pounds, regardless of their preferred sleep position. This model does a great job of relieving pressure around the shoulders, and it doesn’t transfer motion across its surface, making it a great choice for co-sleepers.
However, the Silk & Snow Mattress’ all-foam construction didn’t provide enough support for our testers over 130 pounds. These testers felt like they were sinking too deeply into the bed’s surface.
Most Comfortable Mattress
Puffy Lux Hybrid
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Puffy Lux Hybrid features a five-layer construction designed to provide a high level of pressure relief around the shoulders, even for people who sleep on their side. The bed’s coiled support core is also noticeably quieter than other hybrids and isolates motion well for people sharing their bed with a partner.
Buy From Puffy
Couples
Medium (5)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Good Value
Pros
- Three-layer comfort system engineered to cushion pressure points
- Exceedingly quiet with minimal motion transfer
- Good support and comfort for side and back sleepers under 230 pounds
Cons
- Not enough firmness and support for stomach sleepers
- Too much sinkage for sleepers over 230 pounds
- May not sleep cool enough for hot sleepers
The Puffy Lux Hybrid is a medium (5) firm, 12-inch mattress designed with comfort in mind. The mattress features a stain-resistant polyester cover and a comfort system made up of a layer of gel-infused memory foam, a layer of contouring polyfoam, and a second layer of polyfoam designed to improve breathability. The support core contains a thick layer of pocketed coils and a base layer of dense polyfoam for additional support.
Why We Like It
The five-layer hybrid construction of the Puffy Lux Hybrid does an excellent job of providing ample pressure relief without skimping on responsive support. This mattress will likely be a good fit for side sleepers with shoulder pain, thanks to its plush foams and supportive coil core, all of which enhance comfort. And thanks to its solid motion isolation, the Puffy Lux is a good fit for couples and co-sleepers as well.
How Does It Feel?
The Puffy Lux Hybrid’s three-layer comfort system and pocketed coil core offered a good balance of contouring and support for the side and back sleepers on our team who weigh less than 230 pounds. However, the medium (5) firmness and closely contouring comfort system created a bit too much sinkage for those on our team who sleep on their stomach or weigh over 230 pounds.
We also noticed that the Puffy Lux Hybrid was extremely quiet when our testers changed positions or got into or out of bed.
Best Luxury Mattress
Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress – Plush
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress epitomizes quality craftsmanship and materials, and it’s exceptionally comfortable to boot. We recommend the Plush Euro-top version of the mattress for anyone seeking a sleep surface that gently cradles and contours to their body.
Buy From Avocado
Combination Sleepers
Medium (5)
Responsive Latex
Fair Value
Pros
- High-end design with a sophisticated, closely contouring comfort system
- Breathable and moisture-wicking materials ensure excellent cooling
- GOLS and GOTS certifications indicate sustainably sourcing
Cons
- Too soft for most stomach sleepers
- Limited edge support compared to other hybrid models
- Sticker price is much higher than average
Avocado is best known for high-end sleep products and home furnishings, and the Luxury Organic Mattress is one of the brand’s most sophisticated offerings to date. Seventeen individual layers make up the high-profile hybrid design, including a deep comfort system cushioned with organic cotton and wool, alpaca hair, silk-blend batting, and 4 inches of Dunlop latex. Certifications from the GOTS and GOLS also ensure the mattress has been crafted with sustainability in mind.
Why We Like It
Our hands-on tests show the Plush Luxury Organic Mattress is best suited to side sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. While the latex adds some responsiveness to the surface, the cushioning materials create a deep cradle for the shoulders and hips — two areas of frequent pressure buildup for people who use the side position.
Temperature control is a major strength thanks to the assortment of breathable and moisture-wicking materials in the comfort system, as well as steady air circulation through the pocketed coil support core. We also found this mattress isolates motion better than most competing latex hybrids.
How Does It Feel?
Generous padding gives the Plush Luxury Organic Mattress a medium (5) feel, making it softer and more adaptive than the average latex hybrid. The latex produces a light bounce in response to movement, but the surface lacks the strong springiness you’ll find with standard hybrid models. This unconventional design has pros and cons. You shouldn’t feel much pressure buildup and motion isolation for couples is above average, but the perimeter may compress when bearing weight and some people may struggle to move across the surface without feeling stuck.
The bottom line: if you’re looking for a mattress that’s exceptionally soft and don’t mind splurging on a rather expensive model, the Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress – Plush is worth considering.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Nectar Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Nectar Mattress is an affordable all-foam bed designed to provide enhanced pressure relief when sleeping on your side. The bed’s dual comfort system contours closely to heavier parts of the body while still providing plenty of support, which can be helpful for side sleepers with shoulder pain.
Buy From Nectar
Side Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good Value
Pros
- Relieves pressure in the shoulders for side sleepers
- Excellent motion isolation prevents co-sleepers from disturbing each other
- Comes with a 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- Deep contouring can make it hard to move around on the bed
- Lacks the responsiveness many people prefer for sex
- Not enough support for stomach sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds
The Nectar Mattress is a medium firm (6) all-foam bed with a 12-inch profile. This model features a polyester and nylon blend cover designed to wick moisture and stay cool. The top layer consists of contouring, gel-infused memory foam. A second layer of polyfoam isolates movement so that motion doesn’t transfer across the bed’s surface. A final layer of thick and dense polyfoam improves support and the overall stability of the bed.
Why We Like It
The Nectar Mattress offers just the right level of contouring for side sleepers with sensitive shoulders. We also liked that the bed is reasonably priced.
How Does It Feel?
The Nectar Mattress offers the classic body-hugging feel of memory foam that can relieve pressure around the shoulders. Our testers who sleep on their side found that the Nectar’s contouring worked especially well to prevent pressure points from forming at the shoulder. Most of our back and side sleeping testers felt comfortable and supported as well.
The cushioning foam layers of the Nectar Mattress do an excellent job preventing motion transfer across the bed’s surface. However, this cushioning can also make it harder to change positions.
Why You Should Trust Us
We research and test every mattress we review, relying on a diverse testing team that represents a wide range of body types and sleep positions.
To find the best mattress for shoulder pain, we started by looking for beds with the best pressure relief to ease tension around the shoulders. This is especially important for side sleepers, who tend to place more weight on one shoulder.
We then brought the top models into our sleep lab, where we evaluated each bed on key performance metrics like durability and temperature control. This allowed us to put together a well-researched list of the best mattresses for sleepers with shoulder pain.
More Mattress Options for Specific Needs
About The Author
Staff Writer, Product Testing Team
Alison is a health writer with ample experience reading and interpreting academic, peer-reviewed research. Based in San Diego, she is published in the journal PLOS Genetics and the Journal of Biological Chemistry and has been a copywriter for SmartBug media. With a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, she has nearly a decade of academic research experience in life sciences. She enjoys helping people cut through the noise to understand the bigger picture about sleep and health. Alison likes to stay active with rock climbing, hiking, and walking her dog.
- POSITION: Stomach sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Neutral Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Bear
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