Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain in 2025 [4 Top Purple Picks]

Key takeaways

• Our top pick for pain relief is the Purple RestorePremier® Hybrid Mattress thanks to the personalized relief offered by its responsive comfort coil system and the GelFlex Grid®.
• Shoulder pain is a common issue for side sleepers and can lead to inflammation, tendonitis, bursitis, and other conditions.
• When choosing a mattress for shoulder pain, focus on firmness, pressure relief materials, and spinal support and alignment.

Shoulder pain is a common issue during sleep, especially for side sleepers. When your mattress doesn’t provide enough support, it puts added pressure on your shoulder, leading to pain, inflammation, and even conditions like bursitis or tendonitis.¹ Among the many potential solutions for side sleeper shoulder pain, perhaps the most important is to choose the best mattress for shoulder pain.

The right mattress can reduce discomfort and improve sleep quality, giving you the stamina and physical well-being necessary for your daily activities. With our proprietary GelFlex Grid®, Purple mattresses offer cushioning support that cradles your pressure points and promotes proper alignment to reduce body pain.

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Purple’s Restore® Hybrid mattresses provide adaptive support for a feel that's just right for you.

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Read on to learn more about our top picks for reducing pain and discomfort.

Best Overall Mattress for Pain: Purple RestorePremier® Hybrid Mattress 

Alternative to: Helix Midnight Luxe

If you’re looking for the ultimate pressure relief mattress, the Purple RestorePremier® Hybrid Mattress is the pick for you. “The Purple RestorePremier® offers an immersive feel with precise relief for key areas, such as the shoulders, with 3 inches of GelFlex Grid® and independent foam pillars,” says Tyler Wright, senior product manager of mattresses at Purple. 

Named the Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain by NBC², the RestorePremier® Hybrid’s responsive comfort coil system provides personalized pressure relief for the entire body, helping you get through the night without aches or pains.

• Key Features: 13” height, 3” GelFlex Grid®, edge support system, ultra comfort foam, CoolFlex Coils, Softflex cover with antimicrobial and moisture-wicking finish
• Materials: Polyurethane foam, polyester, elastic, FR rayon, sheath/core
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, Cal king, split king
• Price: $3,499-$6,998

The RestorePremier® Hybrid Mattress can provide the exact level of support your shoulders need throughout the night.

“My wife and I are truly impressed with this mattress. It truly has a cooling feeling, but it is, more importantly, supportive where necessary, and soft elsewhere." — Kevin H., RestorePremier® Hybrid Mattress review

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers With Pain: Purple RestorePlus® Hybrid Mattress

Alternative to: Saatva Classic

Side sleepers are especially prone to experiencing shoulder pain since this sleep position puts more pressure on the shoulders and hips. With its medium-soft feel, cooling GelFlex Grid®, and 3-zone edge-to-edge coils, the Purple RestorePlus® Hybrid Mattress is the best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain.

The RestorePlus® was named the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers With Neck and Shoulder Pain by Forbes³ thanks to its ability to promote proper alignment while also providing much-needed pressure relief.

• Key Features: 13” height, 3” GelFlex Grid®, edge support system, ultra comfort foam, 3-zone responsive coils, Softflex cover with antimicrobial and moisture-wicking finish
• Materials: Polyurethane foam, polyester, elastic, FR rayon, sheath/core
• Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king
• Price: $2,799-$5,598

With ultra comfort foam and zoned coils designed for side sleepers, the RestorePlus® provides the targeted relief you need.

“As a side sleeper, it's always been hard to find a mattress that supports my lower back and upper body at the same time. Purple has accomplished that excellently, and the result is a terrific night's sleep.” — CV, RestorePlus® Hybrid Mattress review

Best Mattress for Couples: Purple Plus® Mattress

Alternative to: Nectar Classic

Looking for a mattress that can help relieve aches and soreness without breaking the bank? With its 2-inch GelFlex Grid® and three layers of foam (including ultra comfort foam), the Purple Plus® Mattress provides the cradling support you need to reduce morning aches and pains.

Named the Best Mattress for Back and Joint Pain by Tom’s Guide⁴, the dual base support foam of this mattress pairs perfectly with our ultra comfort foam for comfortable stability. This also makes it a good pick for couples, as it can help prevent one person’s movements from bothering the other.

• Key Features: 11” height, 2” GelFlex Grid®, edge support foam, ultra comfort foam, dual base support foam, Softflex cover
• Materials: Polyurethane foam, polyester, spandex, acrylic latex
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king
• Price: $1,499-$3,198

With its cradling, breathable, and motion-absorbing foam layers, the Purple Plus® can help you get the shoulder pain relief you need.

“Very comfortable and perfect for couples. My husband is typically really restless at night, this has helped immensely. When he does wiggle around, I can barely feel it now!” — CW, Purple Plus® Mattress review 

Best Luxury Mattress for Pain: Purple RejuvenatePremier® Mattress

Alternative to: Bear Elite Hybrid

For a full-on luxury experience that can help relieve pain, you can’t go wrong with the Purple RejuvenatePremier® Mattress. As Tyler Wright explains, “The Purple RejuvenatePremier® is a great option for side sleepers who often experience shoulder discomfort or pain due to the use of layered GelFlex Grid®, which helps maximize relief for key areas such as the shoulders.”

Named the Best Luxury Mattress by Amerisleep⁵, the RejuvenatePremier® uses dynamic grid support coils and a layered GelFlex Grid® to evenly distribute support and cradle your joints. With targeted five-zone support that keeps your body fully aligned during sleep, this mattress is the perfect pain relief solution for side and combination sleepers who want to rest in luxury.

• Key Features: 16.5” height, two 2” GelFlex Grid® layers, dynamic grid support, DreamLayer tech, active response comfort foam, edge support foam, ultra comfort foam, 5-zone responsive coils, edge support system, quilted comfort top with antimicrobial finish
• Materials: Polyurethane foam, Talalay latex, Polyester, FR rayon, polyethylene, polypropylene, spandex
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, Cal king, split king
• Price: $6,499-$12,998

As the ultimate combination of cradling support and luxurious comfort, the RejuvenatePremier® is unmatched in its ability to provide a blissful night’s sleep.

“I am very happy with my new mattress. Since I have been sleeping on it my sleep quality has improved, and I have been in less pain when I wake up. I look forward to laying down at night and am truly comfortable falling asleep now.” — Daniel A., RejuvenatePremier® Mattress review

How To Choose the Right Mattress for Shoulder Pain

With so many types of mattresses to choose from, trying to decide what mattress is best for shoulder pain can be a challenge. But by focusing on a few important factors, you can find the best mattress for shoulder pain relief.

Mattress Firmness

One of the top signs of a bad mattress for side sleepers is being too firm, which puts added pressure on the shoulders. According to Tyler Wright, side sleepers usually do best with a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress.

“This will usually mean the mattress is a bit softer (but not too soft) on the firmness scale to allow the shoulder to sink into the mattress, thereby lessening the pressure and resulting pain on the shoulder,” he says. “The key is to test various mattresses in order to find the one that provides the desired relief for shoulder pain/discomfort.”

Pressure Relief Materials

Materials like Purple’s innovative GelFlex Grid®, also known as a GelFlex Matrix™, distribute weight and ease shoulder pressure, complementing your mattress’s firmness to provide the right level of relief for your shoulders and other pressure points.

As Tyler Wright explains, “The GelFlex Grid® buckles where needed, allowing areas like the shoulders and hips (for side sleepers) to sink into the mattress, while providing support for other areas to ultimately maintain spinal alignment.”

Support and Spinal Alignment

Without the right type of support, the shoulders, hips, and spine can become misaligned during sleep. This contributes to aches and pains throughout the body.

Mattresses that use features like coil systems, zoned support, and foam cores to contour to your body can help keep the shoulders, hips, and spine aligned. Keeping the spine in its natural S-curve relieves pressure and improves sleep quality, regardless of sleep position.⁶

Sleep Position 

Ultimately, the answer to what type of mattress is best for shoulder pain will largely depend on your sleeping position. Side sleepers generally need more cushioning because they lie directly on their shoulder. Back sleepers, on the other hand, may prefer firmer support for how their weight is distributed.

Consider how a mattress supports different sleep positions, and make sure you get one suited to your sleep style.

Other Tips for Reducing Shoulder Pain at Night

In addition to choosing the best mattress for shoulder pain, there are several other steps you can take to sleep more comfortably. 

• Pillow selection: A quality pillow for side sleepers should keep your head elevated while contouring to your neck. Materials like latex and memory foam or pillows made with the GelFlex Grid®, like the Purple Harmony™ Pillow, are supportive yet soft for pressure relief.
• Body pillows: Many side sleepers use body pillows to help distribute their weight evenly and keep pressure off the shoulders and spine. Improved sleep posture goes a long way in reducing pain.
• Stretching or mobility work: Targeted stretches and mobility exercises can relieve pain and increase shoulder flexibility. Moves like the cross-body shoulder stretch or shoulder circles can be especially effective at loosening tight muscles.
• Monitor pain patterns: Pay attention to what increases or decreases your shoulder pain, especially when trying a new mattress or pillow. It might take some trial and error to find what works best for you.

Reduce Your Nighttime Discomfort With a Purple Mattress

While shoulder pain and other body aches can severely disrupt your sleep, the right mattress can make a big difference. With a wide selection of comfortable mattresses to choose from, Purple can offer the right fit for your body type and sleep position so you can enjoy more comfortable sleep.

By relieving pressure and promoting proper alignment, your mattress can reduce discomfort and ensure you get the rest you need.

Painless Sleep With Purple

Purple’s GelFlex® Grid provides the support and comfort you need to sleep better and reduce pain.

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