I tried two of Helix's top mattresses for side sleepers — here's how to choose between them in 4th of July sales

Side sleepers need a mattress that soothes and supports your hips and shoulders to prevent soreness. However, not all side sleepers have the same preferences and body types, so when sleep brand Helix decided to create a luxury bed for side sleepers, they made two: the Helix Midnight Luxe and the Helix Sunset Luxe.

The Midnight Luxe is currently our top choice for side sleepers in our best mattress guide, but there aren't plenty of great beds for side sleepers on the market. The Sunset Luxe is one of them, a worthy rival to the Midnight Luxe that has a softer feel I'm pitting against the medium-firm Midnight Luxe in this comparison guide.

As I've slept on both the Midnight Luxe and Sunset Luxe, I'm going to explore how two of the best mattresses for side sleepers compare in terms of price, design, and comfort. Both these models are worth buying, so here's a look at which one you should choose in the 4th of July mattress sales.

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Specs at a glance

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Price & Trials

• The Midnight Luxe and Sunset Luxe are the same price
• Both come with a 120-night trial and limited lifetime warranty
• A 20% off sale is the norm, but expect 25% off during major sales

Both the Midnight Luxe and Sunset Luxe are part of the Helix Luxe collection, meaning they come with the exact same price tags. Both have a starting MSRP of $1,492 and an MSRP of $2,498.66 for a queen, but these prices are always discounted thanks to the Helix mattress sales.

For instance, the standard 20% discount takes a queen-sized Luxe mattress down to $1,918. But wait for the holidays (such as 4th of July and the Labor Day mattress sale in September), and you can often save 25% and get a queen for just $1,874.

Both mattresses offer the same benefits, too: a lifetime warranty, a 120-night sleep trial, and free shipping and returns. So, in terms of price and deals, the Sunset Luxe and Midnight Luxe are both winners.

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Design & Materials

• Both are 13.5" tall hybrids with 6 internal layers, plus a Tencel cover
• The Midnight has a custom "balance" layer for support and comfort
• The Sunset has a custom "plush" layer for a "pillowy" feel

The Midnight and Sunset Luxe are two of the best hybrid mattresses and, at first glance, they have an identical design.

They're both 13.5" tall and have six internal layers, including a support tier of 1,000 individually wrapped coils and a premium comfort layer made from gel-infused memory foam. Both the Midnight Luxe and the Sunset Luxe are finished with a pillow top wrapped in breathable eucalyptus-derived Tencel.

However, there's one key difference: the custom firmness layer. If you choose the Sunset Luxe, the firmness layer you'll get is a "plush" and "pillowy", while the Midnight Luxe's medium-firm firmness layer is designed to strike a "a balance between cushioning comfort and serious support".

In short, the custom firmness layer is the heart of both mattresses, giving them an overall different feel despite near-identical designs.

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Comfort & Support

• The Midnight Luxe has a medium-firm feel ideal for side and back sleepers
• The Sunset Luxe has a medium feel for side sleepers only
• Neither are firm enough for stomach sleepers

We rank mattress firmness on a scale of 1-10 (1 being the softest), and myself and my fellow mattress testers awarded the Midnight Luxe a firmness level of 6. We placed the Sunset Luxe at 5. This puts the Midnight Luxe in the medium-firm category and the Sunset Luxe in the medium category.

While just one firmness point may not seem like a huge difference, we definitely felt it. The Helix Midnight Luxe has a lot of pressure relief for side sleeping, as your shoulders and hips sink into the surface. But its medium-firm feel means the spine is lifted, to provide enough lumbar support when back sleeping.

The Sunset Luxe, on the other hand, is strictly a side sleeper mattress. Its medium feel is excellent for cushioning side-sleeping pressure points but lie on your back, and you'll find your lumbar sagging uncomfortably.

I have slept on the Midnight Luxe and was part of the hands-on testing team for the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review. Meanwhile, I was the main tester for the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress review. As a side and back sleeper under 130lbs who prefers a softer bed, I felt that there was a noticeable difference between the two. I preferred the Midnight Luxe for back sleeping and the Sunset Luxe for side sleeping.

The Midnight Luxe scored 4/5 for edge support in our Sleep Lab tests compared to 3.2 for the Sunset Luxe. That means the Midnight Luxe is better for sleeping close to the edge and provides more support when getting in and out of bed.

As for motion isolation, the Midnight Luxe also scored better, with the lead tester (who shares a bed with her pets and young family members) calling the motion isolation "brilliant".

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Temperature Control

• The Midnight Luxe has a relatively rapid cooling rate
• The Sunset Luxe has an excellent cooling rate, despite an initial heat spike
• Both offer an optional cooling cover upgrade

The best cooling mattresses use advanced cooling tech to dissipate heat and feel cool-to-the-touch. While neither the Helix Sunset Luxe or the Midnight Luxe are specialist cooling models, both are hybrids with airflow-boosting coils, cooling gel-infused memory foam, and a breathable Tencel cover.

The Midnight Luxe scored a strong 4 out of 5 for temperature regulation, displaying a rapid cooling rate of 1.82°F/minute (that's how quickly it loses heat — the lower the number, the better.)

The Sunset Luxe scored 3.5 overall and had a cooling rate of 2.06°F/minute, but it was let down by it's maximum temperature increase (MTI) of 12.4°F. Meanwhile, the Midnight Luxe had a MTI of 9°F. That's just how hot it gets.

Both come with the option to upgrade to a CoolForce Layer, which is: "scientifically proven to pull heat away from the body and has been shown to keep you 4 degrees cooler continuously for over 12 hours".

Helix Midnight vs Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress if...

✅ You’re a side and back sleeper: The Midnight Luxe is cushioning enough for side sleepers but supportive enough for back sleeping.

✅ You want better support: Not only is the Midnight Luxe firm enough for back sleeping, but it also has sturdy edges for sleeping and getting in and out of bed.

✅ You sleep hot: The Midnight Luxe experienced less of a heat spike during our thermal imaging tests and had a faster cooling rate.

Buy the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress if...

✅ You only sleep on your side: The Sunset Luxe is a true-blue side sleeper mattress thanks to its medium feel.

✅ You prefer a plusher hotel-style feel: If you want a cloud-like bed with a plush hotel-style pillow top, then the Sunset Luxe is much better for those who prefer a softer bed.