3 and 4 inch gel memory foam
Mattress Toppers for Side Sleepers: Room for Shoulders and Hips
A mattress topper for side sleepers has one job: give your shoulder and hip somewhere to go. On your side, your weight lands on two small points, and a firm surface pushes straight back into them. LOUNJ’s 3 and 4 inch gel memory foam toppers, poured in Phoenix, AZ, let those points sink in while the rest of you stays supported.
- Made in Phoenix, AZ
- 30-Night Happiness Guarantee
- Free shipping, ships in 1 business day
Shop side sleeper toppers
All Mattress ToppersWhy side sleepers wake up with sore hips and shoulders
Lie on your back and your weight spreads across your whole body. Roll onto your side and most of it concentrates on your shoulder and hip, two areas that are a few inches wide. A mattress that feels fine on your back can feel like a floor on your side, and the pressure cuts off circulation enough that you shift, wake, and shift again all night.
Side sleepers also have a spine alignment problem. Your shoulders are wider than your waist, so a surface that does not let the shoulder sink leaves your neck and upper back bent upward. Memory foam solves both issues at once. It gives way under the heaviest points, so shoulder and hip settle into it, while the lighter waist and legs stay supported at the surface. That is what people mean when they say memory foam contours, and it is why it is the standard recommendation for side sleepers.
3 inch or 4 inch: how deep should a side sleeper topper be?
Depth is what separates a topper that helps side sleepers from one that does not. Your shoulder needs to sink roughly 1.5 to 2 inches before pressure disappears, and a 2 inch topper bottoms out before that happens on a firm mattress.
- 3 inch: the right choice for most side sleepers. Enough foam to cradle the shoulder and hip, without feeling like you are sleeping in a hole. See our 3 inch mattress toppers.
- 4 inch: for a very firm mattress, for larger-framed sleepers, or for anyone who has tried 3 inches and wanted more. This is the plushest surface we make. See our 4 inch mattress toppers.
- 2 inch: only if your mattress is already medium-soft and you just want a softer top layer.
If you are between sizes, go thicker. Side sleepers rarely complain that a topper was too soft, and you have 30 nights to be sure.
Gel Mattress Topper vs Gel Topper 2.0 for side sleeping
Both use the same open-cell, gel-infused memory foam we pour in Phoenix. The Gel Mattress Topper is bare foam in 2, 3 or 4 inches, and it is the only way to get the 4 inch depth. It sits directly under your fitted sheet and grips the mattress on its own.
The Gel Mattress Topper 2.0 adds a washable zippered cover and elastic corner straps, in 2 or 3 inches, and fits mattresses from 6 to 16 inches thick. Side sleepers tend to roll and reposition more than back sleepers, and the straps stop the topper from creeping toward one side of the bed over a week. If you want 3 inches with a cover, choose the 2.0. If you want the deepest sink possible, choose the 4 inch bare topper.
Either way the gel infusion pulls heat away from the surface, so the deep contouring does not come with the warm, stuck feeling of older memory foam. Hot sleepers can read more on our cooling mattress topper page.
Finish the setup with a shoulder cutout pillow
A topper fixes the mattress half of the side sleeper problem. The pillow is the other half, and most side sleepers are using one that is too low. When your shoulder sinks into the topper, the gap between your ear and the mattress changes, and your neck needs a pillow that fills it exactly.
Our Talalay Latex Pillow with Shoulder Cutout is built for this. The notch along the bottom edge lets your shoulder tuck under the pillow instead of pushing it away, so your head stays level with your spine and you stop bunching the pillow with your arm. Talalay latex is buoyant and springs back when you turn over, and it sleeps cool. Pick the 5.5 inch Low Profile if you are smaller-framed or your topper is plush, or the 7 inch High Profile if you have broad shoulders. Queen is 16 x 29, King is 16 x 35.
Made in Phoenix, tried at home for 30 nights
We pour, cut and package every side sleeper topper in our own factory in Phoenix, AZ. The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, fiberglass free, made without fire-retardant sprays, hypoallergenic and low odor, and it ships factory direct with no middleman markup.
Orders placed by 2pm Arizona time Monday through Friday ship the same or next business day by FedEx Ground, free to the lower 48, and arrive in 2 to 3 business days. The topper comes compressed; unroll it and give it 24 to 48 hours to reach full height. Then sleep on your side for 30 nights. If your hips and shoulders are not happier, returns are free with no fees, and every topper is backed by a 5-year warranty.
| Your mattress feels | Topper thickness | Product | Add-on pillow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very firm | 4 inch | Gel Mattress Topper (bare) | High Profile shoulder cutout |
| Firm | 3 inch | Gel Mattress Topper 2.0 or Gel Mattress Topper | High or Low Profile shoulder cutout |
| Medium | 3 inch | Gel Mattress Topper 2.0 | Low Profile shoulder cutout |
| Medium-soft | 2 inch | Gel Mattress Topper 2.0 | Low Profile shoulder cutout |
| Firm and I sleep hot | 3 inch | Tri-Zone Topper with bamboo cover | Low Profile shoulder cutout |
Questions about mattress topper for side sleepers
What is the best mattress topper for side sleepers?
A 3 inch gel memory foam topper is the best starting point for most side sleepers. It is deep enough for your shoulder and hip to sink in and relieve pressure, while the waist and legs stay supported. If your mattress is very firm or you are larger-framed, the 4 inch Gel Mattress Topper gives more room to sink.
Is a 2 inch topper enough for a side sleeper?
Usually not on a firm mattress. Your shoulder needs to settle about 1.5 to 2 inches before pressure lets up, and a 2 inch layer bottoms out before that. A 2 inch topper works if your mattress is already medium-soft and you only want a plusher surface. Otherwise choose 3 or 4 inches.
Memory foam or latex for side sleepers?
Memory foam, for most side sleepers. It sinks slowly under the shoulder and hip and holds that shape, which is what relieves pressure. Talalay latex pushes back and is a better fit for combination sleepers or people who dislike the slow-sink feel. If you sleep on your side and run hot, our gel-infused open-cell foam is the middle ground.
Will a mattress topper for side sleepers help with hip pain?
A thicker memory foam topper reduces the pressure your hip carries against a firm surface, which is what most side sleepers are feeling when they wake sore. Many customers find 3 or 4 inches makes a clear difference in comfort. It is a comfort product, not a treatment, so talk to a doctor about ongoing pain.
Will I feel stuck in a thick memory foam topper?
Less than you would expect. Our foam is open-cell, which recovers faster than the dense, closed-cell memory foam that gave the material its stuck reputation, and the gel infusion keeps the surface cooler. Side sleepers who roll often can also choose the Gel Topper 2.0 with straps, which keeps everything in place as you move.
Do I need a different pillow with a thicker topper?
Often, yes. When your shoulder sinks into a 3 or 4 inch topper, the distance from your ear to the mattress shrinks, and a tall pillow will tilt your head up. The Talalay Latex Pillow with Shoulder Cutout lets your shoulder tuck under the pillow so your neck stays straight. Most side sleepers on a plush topper do well with the 5.5 inch Low Profile.
Which sizes are available?
Twin 38×75, Twin XL 38×80, Full 54×75, Full XL 53×80, Queen 60×80, King 76×80 and California King 72×84, plus 12 RV sizes. If your bed is anything else, we cut custom sizes in half inch increments up to 80×84 with a quote in 1 to 2 business days.
How long does a memory foam topper last for a side sleeper?
Side sleepers load the same two spots every night, so foam quality matters more than it does for other positions. Our gel memory foam is poured in our own Phoenix factory and covered by a 5-year warranty against defects. Rotating the topper head to foot every few months spreads the wear and keeps it feeling even.
Give your shoulders and hips somewhere to go
Pick a 3 or 4 inch gel memory foam topper in your size, add the shoulder cutout pillow, and try the whole setup for 30 nights.