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Side sleeping is the most common sleep position, and is also generally considered the healthiest. Those who sleep in this position enjoy good spinal alignment, which can help alleviate aches and pains throughout the body. Additionally, side sleeping opens up airways and improves circulation in the sleeper’s breathing passages; as a result, it can be beneficial for sleepers with certain medical conditions triggered by back sleeping, such as acid reflux and sleep apnea. However, comfortable side sleeping depends on a mattress and bedding system that provides adequate support to the sleeper’s body. In terms of pillow selection, many side sleepers prefer pillows that have a fuller shape and keep the neck and spine aligned. Soft, conforming materials like memory foam and buckwheat are also popular with side sleepers because they alleviate pressure points that develop in the neck and shoulders. This guide will discuss pillow recommendations for side sleepers. First, let’s look at the top 6 pillows for side sleepers. Our picks are based on verified customer and owner experiences, as well as intensive product research and analysis. |
Best Pillows for Side Sleepers |
Editor’s Pick – Coop Home Goods EdenBest Value Pillow – Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck PillowBest Luxury Pillow – HulloBest Cooling Pillow – Snuggle-PedicBest Loft Range – MyPillow PremiumBest Pillow for Pain Relief – Nest Bedding Easy Breather |
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The Eden from Coop Home Goods is constructed with gel memory foam and combed microfibers. These materials conform to the sleeper’s neck and shoulders to alleviate aches and pains that develop. The pillow comes with a zippered cover, allowing owners to adjust the loft whenever they want by removing or adding fill. The Eden also features a bamboo-rayon cover, making it suitable for people who sleep hot.
The Eden retains its shape well and does not require much fluffing. The pillow is also highly durable, with a longer-than-average lifespan of three years. The pillow is easy to clean, as well, due to its removable polyester liner and machine-washable cover.
Coop Home Goods offers mattress protector and pillow bundles, allowing customers to save money on these bedding products when purchased in bulk. Shipping is also free to customers in all 50 states. The Eden is backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a five-year warranty.
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The TEMPUR-Neck Pillow from Tempur-Pedic is an orthopedic pillow with an ergonomic shape that offers great support and pressure relief. This pillow is made from solid memory foam and considered ‘Extra Firm,’ meaning it will not conform as closely; this makes it particularly well-suited for people with larger heads and broader shoulders, as these sleepers tend to sink too deeply into excessively soft pillows.
The memory foam used to construct the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow has exceptional longevity, making the pillow less susceptible to early deterioration (a common problem with solid foam models). The pillow also retains its shape very well and is fairly moldable. The polyester knit cover can be removed and washed in a machine.
The TEMPUR-Neck has a below-average price-point compared to most memory foam pillows, making it a top-value pick for shoppers. Tempur-Pedic offers free shipping within the contiguous U.S., as well as a five-year warranty for the pillow.
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The Hullo is an eco-friendly pillow constructed with an organic-cotton twill cover and buckwheat hull fill. The buckwheat hulls hug the sleeper’s head, neck, and shoulders closely to alleviate aches and pains in these areas. Good air circulation in the interior of the pillow and a cool cover give the Hullo great temperature neutrality, as well.
The Hullo is ‘Firm,’ as is the case with most buckwheat pillows. Owners can adjust the loft at any time by adding or removing hulls; Hulltex LLC, the company that makes the Hullo, sells hulls in bulk to pillow owners who need to replenish their supply. The buckwheat components never need to be cleaned; the cover is removable and machine washable.
The Hullo costs $99 in a Standard size and $149 in a King size, making it a good option for shoppers with bigger budgets. Hulltex LLC offers free shipping for the Hullo anywhere in the contiguous U.S., as well as a 60-night sleep trial.
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The Snuggle-Pedic (also known as the Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow) from Relief Mart contains shredded memory foam. Good circulation throughout the interior, along with a velour cover made from a bamboo rayon blend, allow the pillow to sleep exceptionally cool for most. The Snuggle-Pedic also offers adjustable loft, making it suitable for sleepers with different thickness preferences, as well as those whose desired loft may change from night to night. Owners can ship the pillow to Relief Mart whenever they want a loft adjustment.
Pain and pressure relief are key strengths of the Snuggle-Pedic, which offers close conforming. The pillow is very moldable and well-suited for sleepers who like to cuddle with a pillow during the night. It also retains its shape fairly well and can be machine-dried to expand the pillow back to its full size. Off-gassing potential for the Snuggle-Pedic is also lower than most memory foam pillows.
Customers in the contiguous U.S. who order the Snuggle-Pedic will qualify for free shipping. The pillow is also backed by a 120-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty, both of which are much longer than average.
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Many side sleepers have a hard time deciding which loft, or thickness, is best for them. The MyPillow Premium offers multiple options in order to accommodate a wide range of sleepers. Customers can choose from four different colors – Yellow, White, Green, or Blue – with different loft measurements based on their sex and T-shirt size.
The MyPillow Premium contains interlocking polyfoam, a material that conforms closely for good pressure relief and also sleeps fairly cool. The ring-spun cotton cover also improves temperature neutrality. Regardless of the selected color, all MyPillow Premium models can be periodically machine-dried to expand the pillow back to its full shape. The pillow is fully machine washable, as well, making it very easy to clean.
Shipping fees for the MyPillow Premium are less than $10 in the contiguous U.S. and less than $20 for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and international destinations. The pillow comes with a 60-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
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The Easy Breather pillow from Nest Bedding contains shredded memory foam housed in a cool, breathable Tencel® lyocell cover. The pillow hugs the sleeper closely, forming a tight shape around their head, neck, and shoulders that alleviates a significant amount of pressure, even by memory foam pillow standards. The loft is also adjustable, making it suitable for sleepers with different thickness preferences.
Like other shredded memory foam pillows, the Easy Breather is high moldable and suitable for snuggling. The pillow also has great shape retention and can be machine-dried in order to expand it back to its full dimensions. In addition to the standard Easy Breather, the pillow is available in a ‘Natural’ design that substitutes latex for shredded foam; this model offers comparable levels of pain and pressure relief, as well as great temperature neutrality.
Nest Bedding ships the Easy Breather pillow for free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. The pillow is backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a two-year warranty.
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Side sleeping is considered the healthiest sleep position because it opens up the airways to improve circulation. This position can also benefit sleepers with certain medical conditions, such as acid reflux and sleep apnea, and it also provides more comfort for pregnant women. However, using the right pillow can be a deciding factor between comfort and discomfort for side sleepers. Certain pillow sizes and materials are conducive to side sleeping, while others can cause pain and pressure points to develop.
This guide will look at the mechanics of side sleeping, explore the different pillow types, and list the top-rated pillows for side sleepers according to the people who use them every night.
Generally speaking, there are three specific side sleeping positions (as illustrated below).
More than 40% of side sleepers utilize the fetal position, with their knees tucked in and their elbows bent. Other positions include the log, which involve straightening out the legs and arms, and the yearner, where the sleeper straightens out their legs and stretches out their arms.
Some advantages and health benefits of sleeping on your side include:
However, there are some drawbacks to sleeping on your side. These include:
For side sleepers, there are several variables to consider when choosing a new pillow and comparing different brands and models.
Size: There are six standard pillow sizes to choose from, as well as a smaller specialty size for certain pillow types.
Surface shape: Generally speaking, pillows come in even or curved surfaces. Even-surface pillows are far more common. They may have full or flat shapes, depending on the material. The best-known example of a curved-surface pillow is a cervical memory foam pillow, which is elevated beneath the neck and recessed beneath the head. These pillows are popular with sleepers who experience chronic neck and shoulder pain.
Loft: Loft, or thickness, is important for side sleepers. Generally speaking, there are three categories of pillow loft:
Side sleepers tend to prefer medium- or high-loft pillows. The reason is simple: sleeping on one’s side creates more space between the sleeper’s head/neck and the pillow, and thicker pillows compensate for this gap. Low-loft pillows may cause the next to bend, which can lead to pain and pressure. However, in addition to sleep position, there are several other factors that should be taken into account when choosing the right pillow loft. These include the sleeper’s weight, head size, and shoulder width, as well as the mattress firmness. The table below illustrates optimal conditions for each of the three loft categories.
| Loft Category | Thickness | Optimal Weight | Optimal Head Size | Optimal Shoulder Width | Optimal Mattress Firmness |
| Low | Less than 3″ | More than 230 lbs. | Small | Narrow | Soft to Medium Soft |
| Medium | 3″ to 5″ | 130 to 230 lbs. | Average | Average | Medium |
| High | More than 5″ | Less than 130 lbs. | Large | Broad | Medium Firm to Firm |
It’s important to note that some pillows offer adjustable loft; the owner simply removes or adds more filling to decrease or increase the thickness. Adjustable-loft pillows may be most suitable for side sleepers whose thickness preferences tend to fluctuate.
Pillow Material: Pillows are made from a wide range of materials, and each one has unique pros and cons associated with them. Most side sleepers prefer pillow materials that conform to their head and neck for targeted pressure relief and improved spinal alignment. However, temperature neutrality, cost, and odor/allergy potential may also be factors. The table below breaks down each of the seven most common pillow materials.
| Pillow Material | Filling Description | Pros | Cons | Side Sleeper Rating |
| Buckwheat | Roughly five to 10 lbs. of removable buckwheat hulls (outer shells) | Adjustable loft Close conforming Good support Sleeps cool | High price-point Too firm for some Noise potential Heavy | Very Good Buckwheat pillows are suitable for side sleepers due to their above-average support and adjustable loft |
| Down | Removable duck or goose down, which are the soft inner plumage found beneath the outer feathers | Adjustable loft Very soft and lightweight Sleeps cool Short break-in Long lifespan | High price-point Poor shape retention Fluffing needed Allergy and odor potential | Good Down is soft and comfortable, but some pillows may not be supportive enough for side sleepers |
| Down Alternative | Polyester puffballs that mimic the softness and weight or authentic down | Adjustable loft Low price-point Very soft and lightweight Short break-in No allergy risk | Short lifespan Poor shape retention Fluffing needed Short lifespan | Poor Down alternative pillows lose their shape easily and deteriorate quickly, and most side sleepers find them unsupportive |
| Feather | Outer feathers of ducks or geese (may also include some down for extra softness) | Adjustable loft Close conforming Very soft and lightweight Long lifespan | High cost Quills can poke Fluffing needed May sleep hot Odor potential | Very Good Feather pillows may be quite soft, but adjustable loft allows side sleepers to customize the supportiveness |
| Latex | Solid latex, which is a natural substance extracted from the sap of rubber trees | Close conforming Good support Close conforming Long lifespan Sleep cool No noise | Non-adjustable loft High cost Too dense and heavy for some Odor potential | Good Latex pillows conform closely and alleviate some pressure, but most cannot be adjusted for loft |
| Memory Foam | Shredded or solid memory foam, or viscoelastic polyfoam, which softens when warm and retains shape when cool | Adjustable loft (shredded) Close conforming No noise | High cost Short lifespan Odor potential | Very Good Memory foam pillows (including cervical pillows) conform closely and provide good support for most side sleepers |
| Polyester | Shredded or interlocking polyester fibers; polyester is a synthetic fabric | Low cost Good shape retention (interlocking) No allergy risk No odor potential | Short lifespan Poor shape retention (shredded) Noise potential | Fair Interlocking polyester pillows have a fuller shape, which provides more support to side sleepers, but shredded polyester pillows flatten easily and are not recommended |
Moldability: In addition to the qualities listed in the table above, moldability is a pillow characteristic that is somewhat unique to side sleepers. Some pillows retain a full shape no matter how tightly a sleeper holds them, while others are moldable, or scrunchable, meaning they can be reformed to match the sleeper’s position. Moldability comes down to personal preference. The most moldable options include shredded memory foam, feathers, down, and buckwheat, while the least moldable options are solid memory foam and latex pillows.
Cost: Lastly, let’s look at price-point — which may be the main deciding factor for many pillow shoppers. All pillow materials vary by brand and model in terms of cost, but the table below contains a general price breakdown for the seven most common pillow types.
| Material | Buckwheat | Down | Down Alt. | Feather | Latex | Memory Foam | Polyester |
| Average Price-point | $50 to $75 | $70 to $100 | $20 to $30 | $25 to $50 | $40 to $60 | $50 to $60 | $10 to $15 |
To learn more about pillow options, please visit the following pages on Tuck.com:
