The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers and How to Choose Them
Sleeping number Comfort Fit
Best Adjustable Pillow for Side Sleepers (Update Currently Out of Stock)
Nectar Residence cushion
Best Affordable Pillow for Side Sleepers (Currently Out of Stock)
When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, your pillows play a bigger role than you might think. Since everyone has different sleep needs and styles, you need to find the best pillow that meets your needs. When looking for a new pillow, it’s important to know what type of sleeper you are. Your pillow should be able to accommodate and support your sleeping position. You should also consider whether you need a firm pillow or a softer pillow.
For side sleepers, the best pillow type is one that is high and lofty (another word for height, in pillow terms). Imagine sleeping on your side without a pillow; your head and neck sink into the empty space between your head and mattress, which promotes spinal misalignment. This is what happens when your pillow is thin or unsupportive.
After testing many different pillows, from budget pillows to more expensive pillows, in this review I discuss six of what I consider to be the best pillows for side sleepers.
What is the best pillow for side sleepers?
The best pillow for side sleepers is the Purple Harmony. If you’ve never tried a Purple product or even latex foam, prepare yourself for a comfortable, unique experience. It’s made with Purple’s GelFlex Grid and Talalay latex, which makes the pillow soft, airy, and lightweight without sacrificing support. It’s also great at regulating temperature. Side sleepers should feel supported because this pillow is high and lofty, and their neck should be aligned.
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers 2024
The Purple Harmony pillow is one of my favorites. It’s not as fluffy as a down pillow, but when you lay on it, it feels like a light, airy cloud. Purple’s GelFlex Grid stretches across the top layer, providing soft, squishy comfort, while the Talalay latex in the core of the pillow provides ample head support and prevents the pillow from falling flat.
The cover is a soft, stretchy mesh material. Combined with the ventilated latex and GelFlex Grid, the pillow allows air to flow through easily, making it a great option for hot side sleepers. With three loft heights to choose from (low, medium, high), the Purple Harmony pillow is suitable for side sleepers of all sizes. I recommend the high option for most side sleepers and the medium option for those under 150 pounds.
Advantages
- Three height options
- Promotes airflow for a cooler sleep
- The cover is machine washable
Disadvantages
- Duration
- May feel too unique for those wanting a standard foam pillow
Not a down pillow, but not a true foam pillow either, Sleep Number’s ComfortFit pillow offers the best of both worlds. The Ultimate ComfortFit model comes with three inserts, each filled with memory foam and down-alternative fibers. The filling keeps the pillow feeling soft and airy without ever feeling flat. It’s also one of only two pillows I sleep with every night; I’ve had mine for months and love it.
Most side sleepers will want to keep all three inserts in, but if it’s too high for you, you can always lower it by unzipping the cover and removing an insert. The cover is machine washable.
Advantages
- Removable inserts allow side sleepers to adjust the height
- Comes with a removable and machine washable cover
Disadvantages
- May be too expensive for some buyers
We had high hopes for a pillow with the name snow in it, and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, the Casper Hybrid pillow tops our list for the best cooling pillow because of how well the phase change and other cooling technology works. It feels physically cool and promotes airflow, so you can sleep more comfortably all night long.
The Casper Hybrid pillow’s interior is made up of layers of polyfoam and soft fibers, giving it a blended feel that’s more responsive than memory foam and more supportive than down. In addition to being cooling, the cover is removable and machine washable.
Advantages
- Has a removable and machine washable cover
- Effectively regulates temperature and feels cool
Disadvantages
- High price tag
- May be too cold for side sleepers who don’t get warm easily
The ergonomically designed Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow has a U-shape that supports your head and neck while nestling around the curves of your shoulder. It is filled with latex chips that look like small noodles and fluffy polyester fibers, making the pillow soft, fluffy, springy and supportive at the same time. And while it doesn’t feel cold, it regulates temperature well.
Side sleepers can adjust the height and firmness of the Eli & Elm side sleeper pillow by removing the filling. The more filling, the firmer and higher the pillow will be. You can even order a pillow with extra filling if you are a larger side sleeper or want your pillow to be extra firm.
Advantages
- Removable padding so you can adjust the height
- Specially designed for side sleepers
- You can buy the pillow with extra filling
- Machine washable cover
Disadvantages
- It will cost you more than $100
- No king size pillow available
Another adjustable choice on our list of the best pillows for side sleepers, the Layla Kapok Pillow is extra fluffy, filled with chunks of memory foam and soft, eco-friendly kapok fibers. Layla is known for its light and airy memory foam mattresses, and that’s exactly how the foam in the Kapok Pillow feels. Your head is gently nestled into the foam without sinking too far into the material, and it provides perfect support for side sleepers.
If you want to make the pillow lower and softer, simply remove the filling. If you spill or drool a little too much on the soft cover, no problem: it is removable and machine washable.
Advantages
- You can remove the filling to adjust the height
- Machine washable cover
Disadvantages
I tested the Nectar memory foam pillow which was always sold out. While it doesn’t look like this pillow is coming back, Nectar introduced the Residence pillow. It has the same construction, is made of the same materials, and costs the same as the original Nectar pillow. It just got a little redesign. Because of this, I think it’s the best pillow for side sleepers who want a more budget-friendly option.
The filling is made of different types of memory foam. With a pillow-in-pillow design, the outside is fluffier and softer, while the inside is firmer for good head and neck support. It is filled with filling, so many side sleepers will probably want to remove some to make it more comfortable.
Advantages
- The most affordable option on this list
- You can adjust the height by removing filling
Disadvantages
- The cover needs to be cleaned locally
- Comes in one standard size only
How We Chose the Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
I tested about 30 or more pillows and used my experience with the products to collect the pillows that are best suited for side sleepers. I considered:
- Height
- Firmness
- Materials
- Price
- Additional features such as cooling capacity
Each pillow was tested for at least two days. Since this list is geared toward side sleepers, the goal was to sleep on my side every night without feeling a kink or discomfort in my neck. If a particular pillow didn’t allow me to sleep on my side all night, it wasn’t considered for this list.
Learn more about how we test our products.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
Height is one of the most important parameters to look at when choosing the best pillow for side sleepers. If a pillow is too flat, it won’t support your head and neck properly, which can lead to pain. I especially preferred pillows that offer multiple height options or have removable filling, as they can accommodate a wider range of side sleepers.
Firmness was another factor to consider when choosing the best pillows for side sleepers. Pillows that are too soft can fall flat and not provide the right support. Adjustable pillows are great because you can adjust the firmness level to your liking.
Materials should also be considered when putting together our best side sleeper pillow roundup. The best materials for a fluffy side sleeper pillow are foams like memory, poly, and latex foam, as they hold their shape throughout the night.
Pillows range in price from under $20 to $200 or more, meaning that almost anyone can find a pillow that fits their budget. Many pillows also come with a sleep trial, so you can get your money back if you decide your purchase wasn’t worth it.
Best Pillows for Side Sleepers Compared
| To kiss | Price | Sizes | Firmness | Materials | Machine washable? | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Harmony | €179 | Standard Kingsize | Medium | Hyperelastic polymer + Talalay latex | The cover is machine washable | 100 nights |
| ComfortFit | $100 | Standard, King | Adjustable | Memory foam + polyester fiber | The cover is machine washable | 100 nights |
| Casper Hybrid | $134 | Standard, King | Medium | Polyfoam | The cover is machine washable | 30 nights |
| Eli and Iep | $110 | Standard | Adjustable | Latex shredded + Polyester fiber | The cover is machine washable | 45 nights |
| Layla Kapok | $109 | Queen, King | Adjustable | Shredded memory foam + Kapok fibers | The cover is machine washable | 120 nights |
| Nectar Residence | €75 | Standard | Adjustable | Memory foam | No – spot cleaning only | 50 nights |
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers FAQ’s
What type of pillow should I use when sleeping on my side?
Side sleepers should use a high, firm pillow that provides good head support and keeps the neck in proper alignment with the spine.
What is the best filling for a side sleeper?
Foam filling, whether it is shredded or a whole sheet of foam. Pillows made solely of down or down alternatives tend to fall flat, which can disrupt the alignment of a side sleeper’s spine and neck.
Should side sleepers use a firm or soft pillow?
Side sleepers should use a firm pillow to keep their head and neck elevated and in line with the spine.
