The 15 Very Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Fill type: 75 percent latex, 25 percent polyester fiber fill | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

With a unique curved design, Eli & Elm’s side-sleeping pillow nestles into the space between your head, neck, and shoulders to help you achieve ideal spine alignment. It’s filled with a blend of soft and supportive noodled latex and polyester fiber, and you can adjust the height and firmness by removing or adding filling. According to Cushner, most side sleepers need medium-to-high-loft pillows that provide “enough cushioning for the head and neck without sinking too low,” so the customizable fill level will let you figure out the loft that works best for your body.

A stomach and side sleeper, Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen tested this pillow and says that, right after unboxing, it appeared loftier than other shredded-fiber-fill options she’s tried. Despite the model’s medium-firm density, Goertzen says she likes that it molds around her shoulder and compresses under the side of her head so there’s no pressure buildup around her ear. Goertzen notes it also snaps back to its original shape much faster than memory foam, adding that the upside-down U-shape keeps its fullness throughout the night. The filling is encased in a liner protected by a machine washable exterior cover; the brand also sells a cotton pillowcase that fits seamlessly (which you can bundle with the pillow at the time of purchase).

Fill type: Microfiber fill | Loft: High | Firmness: Medium-soft | Care instructions: Machine-washable

Covered in silky-smooth microfiber material, this set of two pillows is filled with CertiPUR-US & GREENGUARD Gold downlike microfiber fill. The fluffy fill, combined with the bowed pillow shape, creates a plump and plush surface to support your head and neck. The highly rated, high-loft pillows come in three sizes — standard, queen, and king.

Filly type: Shredded memory foam | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Spot-clean

Memory-foam pillows are ideal for side sleepers, according to Cushner and Foley, owing to their dense filling and ability to contour to a person’s body. The Nectar Sleep Resident pillow has a pillow-in-pillow construction that provides the contoured support of traditional memory foam surrounded by a cushy outer layer to add plushness. The pillow will arrive intentionally overstuffed so that you can remove some of the fill as necessary to adjust it to fit your sleeping needs. Dr. Janet Kennedy, clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, advises that memory foam can trap heat, making temperature regulation more challenging. However, thanks to the shredded foam filling, the pillow is still breathable.

[Editor’s note: The Resident Pillow is out of stock, but you can sign up for restock notifications on the product page.]

Fill type: Memory foam | Loft: High | Firmness: Firm | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

The logic behind the brick-shaped Pillow Cube is that its 90-degree angles will completely fill that essential space between your head and your mattress to keep your neck aligned. I’ve tested this pillow myself and found that it delivers on that promise — nestling along the side of my head, the crook of my neck, and the top of my shoulder. It’s made of solid viscoelastic polyurethane and nanofibers (read: sturdy memory foam), so it’s on the firmer side, but it still has the satisfying squish that you’d expect from a foam pillow. The design is ideal for side sleepers who hardly ever sleep in other positions, as its angles and loft aren’t really compatible with back or stomach sleeping.

You can choose from two sizes that coincide with your height — the standard size is meant for people who are six-feet-three or shorter (that’s the one I have, as I am five-feet-ten), and the thick size is for people who are six-four or taller. If you run especially hot, you can also upgrade to an “ice cube” cooling cover for an extra $30. I have the standard cover, which doesn’t have special cooling features but didn’t cause me to overheat.

Fill type: Shredded latex fill | Loft: Standard or high | Firmness: Medium-soft | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Cushiony and responsive, the Saatva latex pillow is filled with springy, shredded natural latex that Colonello says “offers a cooler sleep by promoting superior breathability.” I’ve been sleeping on this pillow for the past several months and it is one of the pillows that I use most often. While I wouldn’t say the latex is overtly cooling, it doesn’t make me sweat or overheat. And since the latex is shredded instead of being a solid piece like the Avocado pillow, below, it’s almost like a denser, bouncier version of a down pillow. My head is able to settle into it just enough; it doesn’t feel overly sinky or too contoured. Although you can’t unzip an inner case to adjust the fill, it isn’t too flat or overly stuffed. As a combination sleeper, I like that I can comfortably use this pillow on my side as well as on my back or stomach. I have the standard loft, which is roughly four-and-a-half inches high and works for my combination sleep style, but you can also choose the high-loft option, which is roughly six-and-a-half inches high. The pillow is also available in two sizes: standard/queen and king.

Fill type: Cross-cut memory-foam and microfiber fill | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

Like our top-pick Eli & Elm pillow, Coop’s cutout pillow leaves space to accommodate your shoulder so that it can fit more easily and snugly under your head and neck. Coop’s cutout pillow has a more pronounced curve than Eli & Elm’s, with an overall blockier shape. The effect is similar to that of the Pillow Cube, with good support in the space between your head and neck, but the Coop pillow is much fluffier and softer than the Pillow Cube.

This pillow comes in two sizes, queen and king. I tried the king size, and though it is technically an inch smaller in length and width than Coop’s king-size Original pillow, it feels more substantial because the center cutout pushes filling to the sides and a gusset around the perimeter of the pillow creates a more even loft across the whole pillow, without any tapering at the edges. There is plenty of space in the cutout for me to move around or roll over. Like other Coop Sleep Goods pillows, this one is filled with crosscut GREENGUARD GOLD– and CertiPUR-US–certified memory foam and microfiber, and you can unzip an inner case to add or remove fill to adjust the loft and firmness. (The pillow comes with a bag of extra fill, or you can buy more in medium or firm densities.)

Fill type: Fiberfill-and-memory-foam blend with volcanic minerals | Loft: Medium to high | Firmness: Medium | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

Kennedy calls temperature regulation “a key factor” when choosing a pillow, regardless of your sleeping position. This one by Sleep Number is constructed with 37.5 Technology, a patented thermoregulating material that helps maintain the optimal body temperature. Filled with a blend of material-infused fiberfill and memory foam, the pillow is designed to wick away moisture for a cooler and drier rest.

When I tested this pillow, its “cool-touch” surface was apparent right out of the packaging. Though it didn’t actually maintain a true “chilled” feeling when I slept on it, I didn’t overheat, either, and I really liked the feel of the meshy cover, which helped keep me from sweating. This pillow is medium-firm, and its medium-high loft kept my head in the right position while sleeping on my side. I slept on the rectangular Classic version of this pillow, but Sleep Number also sells a Contoured version with bolsters for neck support and an Ultimate version that comes with three removable layers to adjust the pillow’s loft and feel.

Fill type: Water-and-fiber fill | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

Yes, water beds went out of style a few decades ago but Alanna McGinn, the founder and CEO of Good Night Sleep Site, and Toussaint-Keshinro agree that water pillows are the gold standard for people in need of more neck support. Water pillows are “perfect for any type of sleep position and many are chiropractor-approved, as the firmness provides the support for head, neck, and spine alignment that will help individuals with chronic pain,” explains McGinn. A favorite of Toussaint-Keshinro, Mediflow’s Water Pillow has a soft layer of fiber that sits atop a water reservoir that you fill yourself, creating a responsive pillow that can help reduce neck pain. The adjustable pillow can be made firmer by adding more water or softer by removing some.

Fill type: CertiPUR-US certified copper-infused gel memory foam | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Honeydew’s side-sleeper pillow, which appears on our list of the best pillows for neck pain, has a curved design and contains cooling copper-infused gel memory foam to promote temperature regulation as you sleep, according to the product description.

Goertzen tested this Scrumptious model and says she likes that the cutout — similar to our best pillow for side sleepers — creates extra room for her shoulder, while the spongy core gently cradles her head. She says instead of having to bunch up a regular rectangular pillow to brace her neck, this one generates a spooning sensation that takes strain off her upper body. It has also eliminated her night sweats (unusual considering that memory foam tends to trap her body heat), and Goertzen says she never feels the need to flip the pillow to the cool side. Although she found the original height and density optimal for the side-sleeping position, the loft and firmness can be customized by removing or adding fill. The brand also sells a pillowcase that’s made to fit the unique shape.

Fill type: 85-to-15 percent European white duck and goose down clusters to down and feather fibers | Loft: High | Firmness: Medium-soft | Care instructions: Dry-clean or machine-wash the entire pillow

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 for consistent head and neck alignment while you sleep. When I slept on this pillow, the extra-tall gusset stood out the most. While down pillows tend to deflate a bit under the weight of my head, this one maintained its structure and fluffiness. Even when I flipped from my left side to my right, I didn’t need to reshuffle the down fill. This pillow comes in two sizes, standard and king.

Fill type: Polyester fiber fill | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium-firm | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine-washable

For those who want all the perks of down without the down itself, this pillow by Nestwell is filled with polyester fibers to create a similar feel. The pillow has a medium-firm feel and a narrower two-inch gusset that adds some structure to help it maintain its shape over time. The cover is made of 100 percent cotton, and you can toss the entire pillow in the wash.

Fill type: Single piece of Melofoam | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium-firm | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover

Schuler tells us side sleepers should focus on having proper support not only under their head but also between their knees to “keep the spine in a neutral position, reduce malalignment, and relieve pressure placed on the neck and back.” While body pillows are often thought of as a pregnancy essential, they can also provide head-to-toe support for anyone who needs it. The Bearaby Cuddler, which the brand sent to me to test out, is my favorite body pillow of those I’ve tried so far. The cylindrical, noodlelike Cuddler is extra long at 75 inches with a uniform eight-inch diameter that takes up far less space in my shared bed than other body pillows on the market. But it’s the latex-like Melofoam material that really sets this body pillow apart. Bouncy and responsive, the Melofoam is breathable, naturally weighted, and provides continuous support without losing its shape over time. Even with daily use and constant twisting and bending, the Cuddler’s buoyancy has held up. The pillow comes with a white, organic-cotton cover that can be washed with your regular laundry, or you can upgrade to a knitted cover that comes in several colors for an additional $125.

Fill type: Shredded memory foam | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium-firm | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine-washable

For a more standard body pillow, this one by Snuggle-Pedic is filled with shredded memory foam and covered in breathable bamboo fabric to support your knees, legs, and back while you sleep by helping to evenly distribute your weight. It’s shorter and wider than the Bearaby Cuddler, at 20 by 54 inches, and filled with shredded memory foam to hug and conform to your body. And perhaps best of all, the entire pillow is machine washable.