Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

More people prefer side sleeping than any other sleep position. If you are a side sleeper, the best mattress should provide adequate cushioning and support in order to promote even spinal alignment. That said, we’ve found that it’s just as important to choose the proper pillow while sleeping in this position. Side sleepers generally need thicker pillows to fill the space beneath their head and neck. Pillows that are too thin do not provide enough cushioning, while excessively thick pillows can interfere with spinal alignment and lead to more pressure points.

Our team came up with a list of the best pillows for side sleepers. These selections are based on our own product research and hands-on testing. We evaluate pillows using a detailed methodology that takes multiple factors into account. Key performance areas during these tests include shape retention, moldability, temperature control, and conforming. Our team also takes weight, firmness options, and ease of cleaning into account.

Best Pillows for Side Sleepers Video

Watch our video below to learn more about our lab’s top picks for pillows for side sleepers.

We provide an overview about each of our picks, covering features that set each pillow apart from the competition. Further down, we’ll take a closer look at how pillows affect side sleeping and offer a few tips for choosing a pillow based on thickness, material composition, price, and other factors.

Product Details

Most side sleepers feel comfortable using high-loft pillows because added thickness ensures adequate head and neck support. However, some who favor this position prefer low- to medium-loft instead. The Saatva Latex Pillow has an adjustable design that served all side sleepers on our test team regardless of their loft leanings.

How It Performed

The pillow contoured closely without buckling or sinking during our tests, while the outer chamber contains plush microdenier fibers that felt similar to natural down. The pillow has an 8-inch profile if you use the core and outer chamber, but you can also separate the two components to create less loft if that’s what you prefer. Since latex has natural cooling properties, this model felt cool to even the hot sleepers on our team.

What It’s Made of

The core consists of shredded Talalay latex and the shell is composed of organic cotton. You may add cotton-sateen pillowcases to your order for a small surcharge. Both the cover and the microdenier chamber are fully machine-washable for easy care at home, though the latex should never be laundered or exposed to moisture. Saatva recommends washing the pillow two times per year. The expected lifespan is about 3 years.

Given the Saatva Latex Pillow’s luxurious materials and high-quality construction, its price-point is quite reasonable, and shipping is free for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Your purchase comes with a 45-night sleep trial, as well as a 1-year warranty with coverage that begins after the trial period ends.

Read our Full Saatva Latex Pillow Review to learn more

Finding a high-quality pillow with a reasonable price-point can be somewhat challenging. The Sweet Zzz Plant-Based Pillow is constructed with fill and cover materials that our testers found both breathable and long-lasting. Our testing team gave the pillow high marks for durability and affordability, making it a great option for shoppers with limited budgets.

How It Performed

While the pillow was thick enough for most side and back sleepers on our team, the fill may flatten over time. Whenever this occurs, you can re-expand the shape by placing the pillow in any household dryer. The pillow felt soft and plush to our testers, thanks to the down alternative fill. The entire pillow is fully machine-washable, so cleaning is a quick and easy process. Simply wash on a cold, gentle cycle and tumble dry on low.

What It’s Made of

The fill is composed of plant-based down alternative fibers that mimicked the soft feel and loft of real down during our tests, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a pillow that feels like down but does not trigger allergy symptoms or use animal-based components. A cotton cover encases the fill. The fabric felt luxuriously smooth, making it well-suited to people with sensitive skin.

Queen and king sizes are available for the Plant-Based Pillow. Both sizes are competitively priced. Sweet Zzz offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and reasonable flat rates for Canadian customers. Each purchase is backed by a 50-night trial period and a 1-year warranty against structural defects.

Down pillows are known for their luxurious plushness, and the Boll & Branch Down Pillow is a standout example. The fluffy feel of this well-constructed pillow is synonymous with high-end bedding, and the multiple firmness options appealed to many of our testers, regardless of their preferred sleeping position.

How It Performed

The pillow is available in soft, medium, and firm models. The softer options catered to our stomach sleepers who enjoy a flatter pillow. Meanwhile, the firm model felt best to our side sleepers who need additional support to keep the head and neck aligned with the spine. Down tends to trap heat, but we found the breathable cover kept the pillow cool throughout testing. The pillow also feels quite moldable, making it a great option if you prefer to snuggle your pillow at night.

What It’s Made of

Regardless of firmness, all Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillows have the lightweight, lofty feel that people typically associate with down. The insert is encased in a shell made of 100% cotton, which has breathable properties to help keep the pillow cool at night. The pillow is fully machine-washable, provided your machine is large enough to accommodate it, as down pillows can damage machines with agitators. Wash in cold water and tumble dry on low heat.

Shoppers may choose between standard and king size. All pillows come with a 30-night sleep trial, and Boll & Branch provides free shipping for all orders to the contiguous U.S.

The Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow is constructed with a distinctive U-curve on the bottom end, designed as a space for your shoulder to rest while sleeping. The top of the pillow provides plenty of support and conforming for your head and neck to help reduce neck pain and keep your spine aligned.

How It Performed

The Side-Sleeper Pillow has a medium to high loft that suited the needs of side sleepers on our testing team. You can adjust the loft by adding or removing fill, with additional bags of fill available for a small charge. Adjusting the pillow’s loft will also affect its firmness, which we found allows it to adapt to a variety of different sleepers.

What It’s Made of

The pillow is filled with a combination of 75% shredded latex and 25% polyester fiber, which resulted in a medium firm feel for our testers. The outer casing is made from a breathable blend of 37% cotton, 61% polyester, and 2% spandex. The zippered casing can be machine washed for easy care. To adjust the loft, simply unzip the cover and add or remove fill.

How It Performed

The pillow measures 4 inches thick, which we rate as medium loft. The side sleepers on our team enjoyed the loft because it provided excellent cushioning for the head and neck without sinking too deeply or feeling too tall. For many, this results in even spinal alignment. We found the pillow was highly moldable and snuggly, making it a good option for people who prefer cuddling with a pillow while they sleep. Our testers also enjoyed using the pillow beneath the legs or between the knees.

What It’s Made of

The Layla Kapok Pillow features a fill made from shredded memory foam and fibers from the kapok tree. Our testers found the kapok fibers exceptionally soft with a down-like consistency, giving the pillow a very plush surface as the memory foam conforms to the head and neck to relieve pressure. The memory foam is infused with copper, which is meant to prevent the pillow from retaining too much body heat.

The Layla Kapok Pillow has a mid-range price-point compared to other shredded memory foam pillows we’ve tested. Shipping is free for those who live in the contiguous U.S. The pillow is backed by a 120-night sleep trial and a 5-year warranty.

The Eli & Elm pillow ships free to the contiguous U.S. The pillow is backed by a 45-day return period as well as a 5-year warranty.

The SHEEX Original Performance Down Alternative Side Sleeper Pillow has a fluffy design that comfortably cradles your head while still offering support. While close contouring can sometimes lead to heat retention in pillows, this model has cooling features to mitigate overheating.

How It Performed

The medium soft feel offers excellent pressure relief for sleepers who experience neck pain from overly firm pillows. During tests, the pillow earned especially high marks from side sleepers, who found the plush surface contoured to the head and neck to prevent pressure buildup. The cover fabric is infused with a phase change material meant to neutralize surface temperature, so hot sleepers may find this pillow more comfortable than competing models.

What It’s Made of

The pillow cover is made with a moisture-wicking polyester and spandex fabric that feels cool against the skin. The fill is composed of a down alternative fiber that mimics the fluffy loft of real down. A 2-inch gusset promotes even distribution of the fill, which helps prevent clumping and encourages stronger pressure relief.

The pillow is available in standard/queen and king sizes. You can remove and machine wash the outer cover in cold water on a gentle cycle, then tumble dry on low. The insert is machine washable in cold water on a gentle cycle and you may dry in a machine on a low setting. However, SHEEX recommends using large capacity machines for the insert.

SHEEX offers reasonable flat-rate shipping fees to addresses in the contiguous U.S. for orders up to $150. Free shipping is offered for orders over $150. You may return the pillow within 30 days of purchase. The pillow is also backed by a 1-year warranty.

Luxome’s LAYR Customizable Pillow has three core layers with distinct feels at an affordable price-point. You can remove or swap each layer with others to achieve the loft and firmness level that fits your needs or preferences. Our testing team found the pillow comfortable for most sleepers, regardless of sleep position or body weight.

How It Performed

Down alternative fibers in the softest layer had a plush feel during testing, while the medium-feel layer features a blend of down alternative and shredded gel-infused memory foam. These materials offered excellent contouring to the head and neck during our pressure relief tests. The firmest layer has solid gel-infused memory foam to support the head and prevent uncomfortable sinkage. This layer is composed of a 1-inch and 2-inch insert, and you can use one or both. The gel infusions in both foams are intended to absorb and dissipate excess heat.

What It’s Made of

The outer pillow shell is made from viscose derived from bamboo, a naturally breathable material with a soft hand feel. Meanwhile, an inner pillow shell made of breathable cotton encases each layer and encourages airflow. These breathable components earned the pillow high marks during our temperature neutrality tests. These covers are also fully machine-washable for easy cleanup.

Customers can pick from standard/queen and king sizes. Luxome ships free to customers living in the contiguous U.S., and it accepts returns within 30 days of delivery. If you buy two pillows, you’ll receive a 50% discount on the second pillow.

For many side sleepers, down pillows tend to sink excessively, and this lack of support often leads to neck pain. With the Brooklinen Down Pillow, you can choose from three designs based on density and firmness. Our testing shows the firm option should provide adequate loft for side sleeping. If you’re a combination sleeper who switches between your side and back or stomach positions, the plush or mid-plush pillows might be more comfortable.

How It Performed

Our team tested each of the Brooklinen Down Pillow’s designs. The firm pillow was most popular among our side sleepers, who appreciated the thick profile, dense feel, and limited sinkage to keep their heads aloft. The back sleepers on our team preferred the mid-plush pillow, and our stomach sleepers felt most comfortable on the plush pillow.

Like other down pillows, the Brooklinen model is highly moldable and snuggly. Overheating wasn’t a major issue during our tests due largely to the breathable cotton sateen shell, and initial odor was minimal. We’ve also given the pillow high marks for durability. The double-stitched edges should prevent rips and tears that allow fill to escape, resulting in a longer-than-average expected lifespan.

What It’s Made of

Down clusters make up the pillow’s fill. The design we recommend for side sleepers feels fairly firm, as the fill density is high. As their names imply, plush and mid-plush designs feel softer due to their lower densities. All pillows are encased in soft, breathable cotton sateen shells. Double-stitching along the perimeter is intended to protect the shell from wear and tear.

In addition to its affordable sticker price, the Brooklinen Down Pillow qualifies for free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Customers who purchase two or four pillows save 10% and 15% on their order, respectively. Brooklinen’s 365-night trial period is one of the longest in the online bedding industry. After your trial expires, you’ll receive an additional year of manufacturer’s warranty coverage.

Many side sleepers feel comfortable on solid memory foam pillows because the material contours evenly to the head and neck, promoting even alignment and reducing pressure in the process. Brooklyn Bedding’s Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow stands out from the competition thanks to two profile options, cooling features, and a relatively affordable sticker price.

How It Performed

We evaluated both of the Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow’s designs during our hands-on tests. Most side sleepers on our team preferred the thicker 6-inch profile. The extra thickness ensures plenty of cushioning between the head and downward-facing shoulder, which is key for proper alignment. Some of our side sleepers didn’t need as much loft, and found the lower 4.5-inch profile more comfortable. The same held true for our back sleepers, though back sleepers who snore heavily should consider the thicker model.

We found that the pillow performed exceptionally well for temperature control. This can be attributed to the ventilated foam core, copper-graphite infusion, and a circular-knit cover that feels cool to the touch. Since the core is composed of solid foam, you won’t need to fluff the pillow in order to maintain a full shape.

What It’s Made of

Each pillow contains a single piece of memory foam. The foam features pinhole perforations intended to promote airflow. Infusions of copper and graphite also help to offset the foam’s heat-trapping properties, as does the breathable circular-knit cover. You may remove and machine wash the cover whenever a cleaning is needed, but the foam should only be spot cleaned if stains or smudges occur.

In addition to its accessible pricing, the Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow qualifies for free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your purchase comes with a 30-night trial period. If you decide to keep the pillow after the trial ends, Brooklyn Bedding backs it with a 3-year warranty against structural and material defects.

Many pillows offer adjustable loft, but few allow you to customize firmness level. The Marlow Pillow is a memory foam model with a unique design that lets you adjust firmness with ease.

How It Performed

The adjustable design lets you pick your ideal firmness, but regardless of the firmness option, our testers found that the foam construction provides excellent contouring for the head and neck without sacrificing support. Side sleepers on our team found the cradling quite comfortable. Back sleepers typically need substantial support as well as moderate contouring, and the adjustable firmness allowed our back-sleeping testers to pick the loft that suited them best.

What It’s Made of

The pillow is filled with shredded memory foam and polyester fibers. The shell is 100% cotton, with a mesh gusset made from polyester. You can adjust the firmness and loft through a simple zippered construction. If you prefer a pillow with higher loft and a firmer feel, you may zip the side of the cover. If you wish to decrease the loft and firmness, simply unzip the side.

The Marlow comes with a generous 365-day return policy and a 2-year warranty. Shipping is free within the contiguous U.S.

Read our Full Layla Kapok Pillow Review to learn more

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The Benefits of Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position among U.S. adults. This position has a few advantages over back or stomach sleeping. For one, side sleeping can minimize snoring because it keeps your airway open; back sleepers snore more often because the tongue falls back into the throat, creating an obstruction for the airway. Side sleeping can be beneficial to people with sleep apnea and/or acid reflux for the same reason. If you’re a pregnant woman, chances are you’ll feel more comfortable on your side than you will in other sleep positions; a bolster pillow for the legs or knees can also provide comfort for pregnant sleepers.

Side sleeping can also align the spine and reduce discomfort in the shoulders, hips, and other areas where pressure points tend to develop. However, this is contingent on a mattress and pillow that offer enough support to align your head and neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips.

Keep reading to learn about special pillow considerations for side sleepers, and how to choose a pillow model based on your body type and personal preferences.

How to Choose a Pillow for Side Sleepers

The best pillow for side sleepers will provide adequate cushioning to support the head and neck. Our testing shows that pillows that either sink too deeply or feel too thick can interfere with spinal alignment, and neck and shoulder aches typically occur as a result. In determining the best pillow, you should look at several factors, including loft, firmness level, and material composition. In the next few sections, we’ll discuss how side sleepers can find a pillow that will work for them.

What to Consider When Purchasing a Pillow for Side Sleepers

In your research for a pillow that is compatible with side sleeping, you’ll no doubt come across pillow manufacturers who claim their products are suitable for all sleep positions, or that their pillows’ construction and materials offer universal comfort for all sleepers regardless of body type or personal preference. These marketing claims are misleading. Each pillow is uniquely designed to provide a distinct feel. Given the demands of different sleep positions, any pillow you select will be better suited to some sleepers and less so for others.

Rather than using marketing jargon to guide your pillow search, focus on the following attributes instead.

What Pillow Materials Are Best for Side Sleepers?

Based on our hands-on tests, we’ve noticed that the best pillow fill materials for side sleepers include memory foam, latex, buckwheat hulls, and other components that offer sufficient support without feeling too firm. However, the amount of comfort a pillow offers side sleepers depends on a few other factors. The most common pillow materials are outlined below.

• Memory Foam: Memory foam, or viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is engineered to feel softer when it comes into contact with body heat. This creates deep conforming for your head and neck when lying on a memory foam pillow, which can help to align the spine and reduce pressure in different areas.
• Buckwheat: Buckwheat pillows are filled with hulls, the hard outer casings of buckwheat kernels. We’ve found that these pillows have a very firm and supportive feel; our testers liken them to hard bean bags. Most buckwheat pillows can be adjusted for loft by adding or removing kernels, and they promote good airflow, too.
• Feather: Feathers are the outer plumage of ducks and geese. While light and airy, feathers have a coarser and denser feel than down. As a result, side sleepers won’t sink as deeply into the pillow. Feather pillows also sleep very cool and offer good durability compared to other pillow types.
• Latex: Latex is a substance derived from the sappy extract of rubber trees. When molded into a foam, latex contours to the body like foam but feels much more responsive. Our side-sleeping testers typically find latex pillows more supportive since the material does not sink as deeply.
• Down: Down is the soft inner plumage of ducks and geese. The material is exceptionally airy and light, and it also promotes insulation. To ensure adequate support for sleepers, many down pillows are reinforced with feathers in their outer chambers. This prevents side sleepers from sinking excessively.
• Polyfoam: Polyfoam molds to the body but it also feels more responsive. You won’t feel the same deep contour as memory foam, but the material is more adaptive than latex. Our temperature neutrality tests show that polyfoam has a tendency to sleep hot, but many manufacturers ventilate or aerate their foam to minimize body heat absorption.

What Size Pillows Are Available?

The most popular pillow sizes are standard, queen, and king. However, some manufacturers offer additional sizes to accommodate sleepers with different preferences. The following table lists facts and figures for the five most common pillow sizes. For the dimensions column, please note these are average measurements that will differ from brand to brand.

Size	Dimensions (Width x Length)	Availability	Best Suited for…
Standard	20W” x 26L”	Very common	Standard pillows are the most compact options. They are also the least expensive on average. You can get by with one standard pillow on a twin, twin XL, or full size mattress, but you’ll want at least two for larger mattress sizes.
Super Standard	20W” x 28L”	Rare	The super standard is slightly longer than the standard, so this size may be a good option if you find standards too small. However, you may have to do some digging – most major pillow manufacturers don’t offer this size.
Queen	20W” x 30L”	Common	A queen size pillow is 4 inches longer than the standard, providing more room for people who toss and turn or use the entire surface of their pillow.
King	20W” x 36L”	Very common	King size pillows offer the most length among common pillow sizes. This ensures ample room for anyone who tosses and turns, or otherwise moves around in bed. However, king size pillows tend to be the most expensive models.
Body	48W” x 20L” (or wider)	Rare	A body pillow is at least 4 feet wide, and should be ideal for anyone who enjoys snuggling with a pillow. Pregnant women often find body pillows comfortable when placed between their knees.

Other Tips for Side Sleepers

In addition to selecting a supportive pillow that promotes spinal alignment, side sleepers can use the following strategies for sleeping comfortably each night.

Choose the Right Mattress: The best mattress for side sleepers will provide ample cushioning to the shoulders and hips in order to align the spine and alleviate pressure in different areas. Most side sleepers on our test team prefer mattresses with softer feels that conform closely to the body without sinking too much beneath their heavier areas.
Use a Pillow Between the Knees: A pillow between the knees can also improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure in the lower back and hips. Pillows filled with down/feathers, shredded foam, and other moldable materials tend to be most comfortable. You may also find more comfort and pressure relief by placing the pillow beneath your legs.
Invest in a Mattress Topper: A topper is a single layer of cushioning material placed on top of your mattress. Toppers can measure up to 4 inches thick, so using one can make your mattress feel significantly softer or firmer. For side sleepers, the right topper can mean closer conforming, better spinal alignment, and less pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pillows for Side Sleepers