Best mattress for hip pain
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. “I wake up with sore hips” is something we hear a lot, mostly from side sleepers and often after years on a bed that’s too firm or starting to sag. Here’s how a mattress affects your hips, which firmness and layers tend to help, the mattresses we’d look at first at today’s prices, and a few simple changes to try tonight.
The short answer
- Side sleepers: go medium to medium soft. Your hip needs to sink in a little so it isn’t pushed up all night.
- Look for a thick, soft top layer of memory foam, or a zoned mattress that’s softer under the hips on purpose.
- Don’t go too soft. If your hips sink like a hammock, your lower back and hips both pay for it.
- Back and stomach sleepers usually want a step firmer, so the hips stay level with the shoulders.
- An adjustable base helps some people, because raising the knees a little takes pressure off the hips and lower back.
Why a mattress can make your hips hurt
When you lie on your side, most of your weight rests on two narrow points: the shoulder and the hip. The hip is the heaviest of the two, so it presses hardest into the bed.
- Too firm: the mattress pushes back on the hip instead of letting it sink in, and that pressure point is what many people feel in the morning.
- Too soft or sagging: the hips drop lower than the shoulders, which bends the spine and can leave the hips and lower back stiff. Our sagging mattress guide shows how to check for a dip.
- Just right: the hip and shoulder sink in enough that your spine looks straight from head to tailbone, the same shape it has when you stand.
Which firmness for hip pain?
| How you sleep | Firmness to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Side, lighter build | Medium soft or plush | Lighter sleepers don’t sink as far, so they need a softer top to cushion the hip |
| Side, average build | Medium, ideally zoned | Enough give at the hip without letting it sag |
| Side, heavier build | Medium soft hybrid, 12" to 14" | Sinks in at the hip without bottoming out on the support layer |
| Back | Medium firm | Keeps the hips from sinking below the shoulders |
| Combination | Medium | Soft enough on your side, supportive when you roll onto your back |
Not sure what “medium soft” really means? Our mattress firmness guide explains the whole scale.
Zoned, memory foam or hybrid?
- Zoned: made for exactly this. On our 12" ActiveAlign Copper Zoned, the zoned layer is plush cooling gel under the upper torso and plush memory foam at the hips, with support foam at the head and feet. More in our zoned mattress guide.
- Memory foam: the deepest, most cradling feel around the hip and shoulder, and it isolates motion well if you share the bed.
- Hybrid: a softer foam top over pocketed coils. It feels a bit bouncier, makes it easier to roll over and change sides, and sleeps cooler. See memory foam vs hybrid.
Our picks for sore hips, at today’s prices
| Pick | Best for | Model code | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12" ActiveAlign Copper Zoned | Best overall: plush memory foam zone at the hips | 12REACTIVE-Q |
$689 | $779 |
| 14" ActiveAlign Zoned Hybrid | Medium soft zoned hybrid, good for heavier side sleepers | 14REACTIVE-Q |
$759 | $909 |
| 12" EcoCore Hybrid Deluxe | Medium plush hybrid with 2" gel memory foam | 12HSOY-Q |
$679 | $809 |
| 12" Essentials Plush | Plush all foam for lighter side sleepers | 12ESS-Q |
$549 | $669 |
| 12" iSwitch Flippable | Medium soft side and medium firm side in one mattress | 12ISWITCH-Q |
$639 | $769 |
Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included. A dash means that model isn’t made in that size.
Every model is side by side on the mattress comparison chart, and every softer model is compared in our best soft mattress guide.
12" ActiveAlign Reactive Copper Zoned Memory Foam Mattress - Medium
The one we suggest first for sore hips, especially if you sleep on your side or switch positions. Its zoned layer puts plush memory foam at the hips and plush cooling gel under the upper torso, with support foam at the head and feet.
- 12" all foam, zoned support
- Copper-gel memory foam plus a cooling gel zone
- Medium feel, bends well on an adjustable base
From $559 (Twin XL) · Queen $689 · See sizes & details
14" ActiveAlign Reactive Copper Zoned Hybrid Pocket Coil Mattress - Plush Medium Soft
A softer, thicker take on the same zoned idea, with pocketed coils underneath. A good fit for heavier side sleepers who need more cushion at the hip without sinking too far.
- 14" zoned hybrid
- Medium soft feel
- Pocketed coils for support and easier movement
From $609 (Twin XL) · Queen $759 · See sizes & details
Can an adjustable base help with hip pain?
For some people, yes. Raising the head and knees a little, or using the zero gravity position, spreads your weight more evenly and takes pressure off the hips and lower back, and many people find it easier to get out of bed from a slight incline. Our SBKDL2 Lumbar base adds a separate lumbar lift for the small of your back, plus massage and pillow tilt. Our best adjustable base for back pain guide compares the options.
Things to try tonight
- Put a pillow between your knees when you sleep on your side. It keeps the top leg from pulling your hips out of line.
- Switch sides now and then so one hip isn’t taking all the pressure every night.
- Check your pillow height. Side sleepers need a thicker pillow so the neck stays level with the spine. See how to choose a pillow.
- Bed too firm right now? Our how to make a mattress softer guide has 6 fixes to try before replacing it.
Shop this guide
Sore hips? These are where most side sleepers start.
- 12" ActiveAlign Reactive Copper Zoned Memory Foam Mattress - Medium, from $559. Zoned copper-gel foam with a plush memory foam zone at the hips.
- 14" ActiveAlign Reactive Copper Zoned Hybrid Pocket Coil Mattress - Plush Medium Soft, from $609. 14" medium soft zoned hybrid for heavier side sleepers.
- 12" EcoCore Hybrid Deluxe Soy Foam & Pocket Coil Mattress - Medium Soft Plush, from $539. 12" medium plush hybrid with pocketed coils.
Questions we hear a lot
What kind of mattress is best for hip pain?
For side sleepers, a medium to medium soft mattress with a thick memory foam top layer, or a zoned mattress that is softer under the hips, lets the hip sink in without sagging. Back and stomach sleepers usually do better a step firmer so the hips stay level with the shoulders.
Can a mattress that is too firm cause hip pain?
It can add to it. On your side, the hip carries the most weight, and a very firm mattress pushes back on it all night instead of letting it sink in. A mattress that is too soft or sagging can also hurt, because the hips drop below the shoulders. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Is memory foam or a hybrid better for sore hips?
Both can work. Memory foam gives the deepest cushion around the hip and shoulder. A hybrid has a soft foam top over pocketed coils, feels a little bouncier, makes it easier to change positions and sleeps cooler.
Does an adjustable base help with hip pain?
For some people, yes. Raising the head and knees a little, or using the zero gravity position, spreads your weight more evenly and takes pressure off the hips and lower back. Many people also find it easier to get out of bed from a slight incline.
Which of your mattresses do you recommend for hip pain?
We usually start with the 12-inch ActiveAlign Copper Zoned, which has plush memory foam at the hips. Heavier side sleepers often like the 14-inch ActiveAlign Zoned Hybrid, and the 12-inch EcoCore Hybrid Deluxe and 12-inch Essentials Plush are softer options. Prices on the guide update live.
Want a second opinion?
Text John how you sleep, your height and weight range, what you’re sleeping on now and where it hurts. He’ll tell you honestly whether it sounds like the mattress, the base or something to fix with pillows first. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, or take the 60-second mattress quiz.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Product details are from our listings; the rest is general shopping guidance, not medical advice. If hip pain is new, sharp or keeps getting worse, talk to your doctor. Prices are read live from our catalog and update automatically.