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If you sleep on your side, the most important factor to consider when shopping for pillows is the loft. That’s the official term for the height of a pillow when it’s laid out on your bed, and the best pillows for side sleepers will have enough loft to fill the space between your head and your mattress when you’re lying on your side.
Support is also really important: Side sleepers typically need firmer pillows, rather than softer ones, to make sure their heads don’t sink too deeply, which can put strain on your neck (and we’ve got a whole other roundup of pillows for neck pain if you’re suffering from that). Your goal should be to find a pillow that lifts your head high enough to line up with your neck and spine, but not too high, and is supportive enough to prevent your head from sinking too low. (To that end, if a previously perfect loft is suddenly feeling too low, that might be a sign that it’s time to replace your pillow.)
Alas, there is no one-size-fits-all pillow for side sleepers, because your body type and personal preferences will also be determining factors in what pillow you should buy. If you have especially broad shoulders, for example, you’ll need a loftier pillow than someone with a narrower build. And if you prefer, say, squishy down-alternative pillows over firmer latex pillows or memory-foam pillows, you’ll likely need a higher-loft pillow to account for the more compressive fill.
To compile this guide to the best pillows for side sleepers, I looked for pillows with a medium or high loft — four or five inches is a good starting point for most people — and a medium or firm feel. I also made sure to include pillows made with a variety of materials, to account for different firmness and feel preferences. As someone who’s tested dozens of pillows and a back-and-side sleeper myself, I’ve included my top picks for side sleepers below, along with pillows that have been tested by other side-sleeping Strategist staffers. If you’re looking for other types of pillows, you can also check out our guide to the best bed pillows, as well as the best pillows for back sleepers and stomach sleepers.
Update on November 18, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Loft
Side sleepers need a pillow that fills the space between their head and the mattress when they are lying on their side — so the loft should be roughly the same as the distance between your edge of your shoulder and the base of your neck. The rule of thumb is that side sleepers need a higher loft pillow, but there is room for variation based on physical traits and personal preferences. I usually consider five inches or more to be a high loft, so if you are tall or have broader shoulders, I’d aim for something in that range. People who are shorter or who have narrow shoulders might prefer a medium loft, around three or four inches.
Firmness
A medium-firm or firm pillow tends to be the best option for people sleeping on their side. While there is room for personal preference here, a medium-firm or firm pillow helps your head stay aligned with your neck and spine, and doesn’t let it sink too far toward the mattress while you sleep. For people who prefer a softer, plusher feel over a firmer one, down pillows and down-alternative pillows can work fine as long as they have enough loft. Pillows with a supportive core and a more plush outer layer can be a good compromise — and I’ve included a few on this list that deliver on both plushness and neck support.
Shape
Specialty pillows for side sleepers come in various shapes to help position your shoulders, neck, and head while you sleep. Whether these pillow shapes actually make a difference in your sleep quality is up for debate, and Dr. Thomas Schuler, chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute, explains that while there isn’t much academic research examining their effectiveness, “if a person tries one and finds that it seems to give some pain relief, then that’s excellent.” For people navigating chronic pain, a specialty pillow with a unique shape may be worth a shot. For the average side sleeper who is simply looking for comfort and support, a standard pillow shape can likely get the job done. And for a standard shape that gives a little extra support, a gusseted pillow can be beneficial — these pillows have an extra panel of fabric sewn around the edges to give the pillow a boxier shape, which can allow for additional support and loft to keep the neck in line.
Best pillow for side sleepers overall
Fill type: Latex noodles and polyester fiber fill | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Shape: Crescent
The standout feature of Eli & Elm’s side-sleeping pillow is a crescent shape with a cutout that fits right up against your shoulder, so that it can fully fill the space between your head, neck, and mattress. It’s filled with a blend of soft and supportive noodled latex and polyester fiber, and you can adjust the loft and firmness by removing or adding filling to customize it to your body (for that reason, it’s also one of our favorite adjustable pillows). When I tested this pillow, I liked how the cutout let me snuggle the base of my neck right up to the edge of the pillow. My neck felt well-supported and I could easily hug my arms around the wider sides of the pillow. As a back-and-side sleeper, I also tried it while lying on my back and I was surprised to find it still worked pretty well. I had to scoot back a bit, so that my neck was lying on the pillow and not dangling over the cutout, but the crescent shape framed my shoulders quite comfortably.
Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen, a stomach and side sleeper, also tested this pillow and liked the way it molded around her shoulder and compressed under the side of her head so there was no pressure buildup around her ear. Goertzen says it’s also more responsive and springy than many memory-foam pillows she’s tried. The filling is encased in a liner protected by a machine washable exterior cover; the brand also sells a cotton pillowcase that fits the cutout perfectly, and which you can bundle with the pillow at the time of purchase. You can also add a package of additional fill, but I’d recommend trying the pillow as-is first, because it comes filled pretty densely.
Best (less expensive) pillow for side sleepers
Fill type: Down-alternative polyester fiber | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium | Shape: Rectangular
Sold in a two-pack for about $60 — though you can often find them on sale for even less — Beckham Hotel Collection’s pillows are plush and pleasantly bouncy thanks to their cushy down-alternative fill. Though the fill level and loft are not adjustable, so you can’t customize them like the Eli & Elm pillow, Strategist writer (and combination stomach-and-side sleeper) Arielle Avila finds they are still supportive enough to use while sleeping on her side. I also gave these pillows a whirl, since they are so popular among our readers. They are surprisingly supportive: The down-alternative fill definitely feels soft and compressive, but the pillows are stuffed with enough filling that my head didn’t sink down too far (a common problem with side sleeping on a too-soft pillow). My head and neck felt well-supported, but pleasantly enveloped by the plush cushioning of the pillow.
The pillows come in two sizes, queen and king, and have a smooth and cooling 250 thread count cover. They’re also fully machine washable, which is always a plus in my book.
Best cooling pillow for side sleepers
Filly type: Shredded memory foam | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular
If I’m testing a pillow that’s supposed to be “cooling,” I’m generally looking for breathable materials that allow heat to escape, and materials that feel cool to the touch. The Tempur-Cloud Breeze is filled with Tempur-Pedic’s signature Tempur Material memory foam, topped by a gel pad on each side of the pillow. Memory foam is known for retaining heat, but when I tested this pillow, I was taken aback by how cool the gel pads actually felt — gel is a common cooling infusion, but I rarely notice it making foam actually feel cold. And while the initial cooling sensation does fade the longer you lay on the pillow, I like that Tempur-Pedic has a gel pad on each side, so you can always flip the pillow over for another blast.
This pillow is fairly tall, at just over six inches, and the foam is dense, so I think it works best for side sleepers. But the foam is also deeply contouring, letting your head settle into it after a minute or two, so my neck still ended up level with the rest of my spine. Goertzen had a similar experience when she tried this pillow, reporting that it foam slowly molded around her head and neck. She also tends to run warm and says the Tempur-Cloud Breeze did an excellent job of regulating her temperature.
Best high-loft latex pillow for side sleepers
Fill type: Charcoal-infused latex | Loft: High | Firmness: Firm | Shape: Rectangular
Latex foam is one of my favorite materials for pillows because it’s supportive like memory foam, but has a more bouncy and responsive feel. It also tends to stay cooler — a bonus for those who want a cooling pillow. This pillow from Avocado, a brand known for its natural and organic products, is filled with a lofty slab of charcoal-infused latex foam. According to the brand, the charcoal infusions combat body odor and moisture. The foam is also perforated to allow for further ventilation.
When I first lay down on the Avocado Molded Latex pillow, I immediately clocked how firm and supportive the latex felt. I usually sleep on a Purple Harmony pillow, which is also a latex pillow, but one with a much softer, more forgiving consistency. This Avocado pillow is much firmer and more sturdy feeling, though it still has a slight give and the classic latex buoyancy. My head and neck didn’t sink into the Avocado pillow much, so the loft of the five-inch-tall pillow was actually a bit too high for me. But former Strategist writer Latifah Miles, who’s five feet, 10 inches tall, found the loft of the Avocado pillow just right. I’m about five-foot-five, so I think this pillow would be a great choice for side sleepers who are tall or have broader shoulders.
The latex is encased in a certified organic cotton cover, which is soft and breathable. It’s also machine washable, which makes keeping the pillow clean super easy.
Best variable-loft latex pillow for side sleepers
Fill type: Talalay latex foam | Loft: Low, medium, or high | Firmness: Medium | Shape: Rectangular
I primarily sleep on my back and side, and the Purple Harmony has been the main pillow I’ve slept on for over a year, at least when I’m not testing other pillows. If you don’t love a super-high loft pillow but still want latex, the Purple Harmony should work well. This pillow is my top pick for back sleepers, but I also like it as a sometimes-side-sleeper who prefers a slightly lower loft. The pillow comes in three loft options: low with a 5.5-inch loft, medium with a 6.5-inch loft, and high with a 7.5-inch loft. I have the low version and frankly, 5.5 inches is hardly a low loft (I’d say two or three inches would be a truly low-loft pillow). It’s even a half-inch taller than the Avocado latex pillow, above. But this loft strikes the right balance of comfort and support for me, because it has more give than the Avocado pillow, so in practice it feels lower-loft once you’re actually lying on it.
The Purple Harmony is made with a Talalay latex core that has ventilation holes to allow for additional airflow. On top of the latex, there’s a layer of Purple’s signature polymer grid — the same stuff that’s in the brand’s mattresses. The combo of latex and the polymer grid gives the Purple Harmony a super springy feel; my partner also sleeps on this pillow and he has marveled at how it never goes flat. I find that the latex core gives me enough support when I’m laying on my side to keep my neck in alignment, without veering into being overly supported. If you want a higher-loft pillow, the medium or high versions would be worth considering, especially if you’d like a more flexible feel than the Avocado pillow provides. The downside, though, is that the Purple Harmony costs about $70 more than the Avocado at full price.
Best adjustable pillow for side sleepers
Fill type: Shredded memory-foam and kapok fiber | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular
Because side sleepers need more head and neck support, it can be easy to go overboard and end up too supported, with your neck flexed into an uncomfortable position. So adjustable pillows like the Layla Kapok can be particularly helpful, because you can really dial in your height and firmness preferences. This pillow is filled with a blend of shredded memory foam and kapok fiber (seed-hair fibers from the kapok tree, which feel similar to cotton). The memory-foam gives the pillow some structure, while the kapok fiber adds softness. The pillow comes overstuffed, so it was quite firm and lofty when I first received it. However, it was easy to unzip the inner cover and remove some filling. Adjusted or not, the Layla Kapok pillow is dense and provides lots of good neck support, but still molds easily around you.
The Layla Kapok pillow comes with a polyester-rayon blend outer cover that feels soft and cozy, like a well-worn T-shirt. The cover is conveniently machine washable, too.
Best pillow for side-and-back sleepers
Fill type: Shredded latex inner pillow and microdenier fiber outer pillow | Loft: Medium or high | Firmness: Medium | Shape: Rectangular
One of the questions I get asked most often about pillows is “What kind of pillow should I buy if I change between sleeping positions?” The key is to find one that strikes a good balance between what you need for each position. For side sleepers who occasionally shift onto their back, it’s important that your pillow can provide enough neck support when you are lying on your side, without wrenching your neck too high when you’re lying on your back. I recommend the Saatva Latex pillow for this, because it has a pillow-within-a-pillow design: an inner pillow filled with shredded latex, surrounded by an outer pillow filled with fluffy microdenier fiber, a type of ultrafine microfiber. The result is a fluffy exterior with sturdy neck support beneath.
The pillow comes in two loft options: standard or high, which are about five inches tall and six to seven inches tall, respectively. Saatva recommends the standard version for back and stomach sleepers, and advises side sleepers to go for the high. I tested the standard version, and found it very comfortable both on my back and on my side. I like how this pillow prioritizes neck support, but not at the expense of a plush feel. I also appreciate that the inner pillow is made from latex, which tends to stay cooler than memory foam.
Best pillow for side-and-stomach sleepers
Fill type: Polyester microfiber fill | Loft: Medium to low | Firmness: Medium-firm | Shape: Rectangular
Even trickier than finding a back-and-side-sleeper pillow is finding a side-and-stomach-sleeper pillow. Side-and stomach sleepers need opposite qualities out of a pillow: Where side sleepers need extra neck support, stomach sleepers need very little because their head and neck are already so close to the mattress.
The Casper Original pillow is beloved by two Strategist staffers: senior editor Kiki Aranita, a side sleeper and a longtime fan of Casper’s mattresses, and Goertzen, a side-and-stomach sleeper who has talked about this pillow so often that she has convinced several of her family members to purchase it too. Like the Saatva pillow, the Casper Original has a pillow-within-a-pillow design. The internal layer is firmer, while the external one is fluffier, but both are filled with polyester microfiber fill. Goertzen says the firmer core gives her adequate neck support, but remains comfortable when she rolls over to her stomach. She notes that she doesn’t love a super-flat pillow, even when laying on her stomach, but adds that you can unzip the case and pull out the core to lower the loft for stomach sleeping, if desired. The entire Casper Original pillow is machine washable. At $59 for one pillow, it’s also one of the more affordable pillows on this list.
Best down pillow for side sleepers
Fill type: Down and feathers | Loft: High | Firmness: Medium-soft | Shape: Rectangular with gusset
Down pillows are known for their luxurious comfort and cloud-like softness. Without skimping on plushness, thanks to its 750-fill-power European white down, the Parachute Side Sleeper pillow has a high loft and medium density to cradle your head and neck comfortably. However, the 3.5-inch gusset is the star of this pillow, as it helps the pillow maintain its rectangular shape across the whole surface of the pillow. When Miles tried it, the extra-tall gusset stood out the most as it ensured the pillow maintained its structure and fluffiness. She rarely needed to fluff the pillow or readjust the down fill, which can be a common issue with down pillows. This pillow comes in two sizes, standard and king.
Some more bedding for side sleepers we’ve written about
Our experts
• Kiki Aranita, Strategist senior editor
• Arielle Avila, Strategist writer
• Sam Daly, Strategist deals editor
• Brenley Goertzen, Strategist writer
• Randi Jaffe, chiropractor
• Latifah Miles, former Strategist sleep writer
• Dr. Thomas Schuler, chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute
• Dr. Rennes Toussaint-Keshinro, chiropractor and mental-health coach
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor
Additional reporting by Latifah Miles and Brenley Goertzen.
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