The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

For most side sleepers, the key to a comfortable pillow is ample cushioning to fill the space between the neck and downward-facing shoulder. This promotes proper alignment and reduces the potential for pressure buildup along the spine. With the Shredded Memory Foam Pillow from Sleep Is the Foundation, you can add as much fill as you need to create your ideal loft. Each order includes extra fill if you prefer maximum volume, but you can also remove the foam based on your head size and shoulder width.

The pillow’s shredded foam molds to your head and neck for a cradling effect some of our testers described as “cloud-like.” How closely the foam contours will depend on how much fill you use. Most side sleepers on our team preferred the pillow full or nearly full, while back and stomach sleepers didn’t need as much fill. Keep this in mind if you’re a combination sleeper — we recommend keeping the fill close by whenever you change positions and need to adjust the loft.

The cover is composed of viscose derived from bamboo, a breathable fabric with moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool and dry. Viscose is also exceptionally soft. An inner pouch holds the foam. You can separate the outer cover from the pouch and machine-wash the former in any household machine, but the foam should never be exposed to moisture.

For our side sleepers, being able to customize how thick and firm a pillow feels is an important quality. The inner pouch makes the pillow easy to adjust without making a mess. Unlike solid foam pillows — which can be somewhat dense — this Sleep Is the Foundation model feels squishy and adaptive, forming a gentle contour around the head and neck. Temperature control is another strength. The foam retains a bit of heat, but this is offset by the breathable, moisture-wicking cover.

Although comfort is a subjective quality for pillows, some models can accommodate a wider range of sleeper types than others. Take the Layla Kapok Pillow, which is fully adjustable – simply add or remove the fill as needed to achieve your ideal loft and firmness. Shredded memory foam and down alternative fibers from the kapok tree create a soothing balance of cushioning and softness, while a cooling cover ensures you won't notice too much heat retention while you sleep.

The shredded memory foam and kapok fibers combine nicely, creating a surface that's both adaptive and downy-soft. You'll notice some light contouring around the head and neck, but without the deep hug you'd get from solid foam or the deep sink that often occurs with pure down. A smooth cover made from blended polyester and viscose feels cool and wicks moisture away from your skin. You can separate the inner fill pouch and cover, then machine-wash the latter as needed to keep the pillow clean and hygienic. Queen and king sizes are available. If you opt for a two-pack, you'll save a significant amount of money as opposed to buying two pillows separately.

During our hands-on tests of the Layla Kapok Pillow, most side sleepers on our team preferred the fill at 75% to 100% volume. Thicker loft means more padding to fill the space between your head and downward-facing shoulder, which in turn helps keep your spine in proper alignment and reduces pressure buildup. If you're a combination sleeper who also sleeps on your back, a mid-range loft of 50% to 75% percent should satisfy both positions. 

The shredded foam and kapok fibers give the pillow a cuddly, moldable feel – especially if not all of the fill is used. By the same token, this means you may need to fluff regularly to maintain a full shape. We awarded the pillow high marks for temperature control. The foam may retain some body heat, but the cover is breathable enough to prevent excessive warmth.

Sijo's FluffBase Eucalyptus Pillow proves you don't need to spend a lot of money on a high-quality pillow. Priced well below most of the competition, the pillow delivers a soothing sleep experience with a cushy down alternative fill that cushions the head, neck, and shoulders, and a Tencel cover that feels smooth and cool to the touch.

The medium soft FluffBase feels invitingly plush as the down alternative fill molds around your head and neck. You'll feel more support from the medium firm design, which doesn't sink as much. Both versions feel luxuriously cool, and this can be attributed to the cover made of Tencel – a eucalyptus-derived fabric prized for its breathability and moisture control. We also recommend the pillow to people who are allergic to real down and/or averse to using sleep products that contain animal-based materials. The entire pillow is machine-washable for quick, convenient care.

After testing both of the FluffBase's firmness levels, our team has determined side sleepers are most likely to prefer the medium firm design. This model provides more pushback to keep the head, neck, and shoulders aligned with the rest of your spine. Back sleepers on our team also enjoyed the medium firm pillow, whereas stomach sleepers felt more comfortable on the medium soft design because it compressed more and didn't strain their necks. This pillow also earned high marks for temperature control – thanks in large part to the breathable, moisture-wicking Tencel cover – moldability, and ease of care.

The U-shaped design of the Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow cushions the shoulder and lifts the head, encouraging proper spinal alignment for side sleepers. An interior fill consisting of 75% latex noodles and 25% polyester fibers provides responsive support.

With a distinctive shape and adjustable firmness, the Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow caters specifically to side sleepers. The soft and supportive combination of latex noodles and polyester fibers makes the pillow especially moldable, making it a good option for side sleepers across all weight categories. A zippered cover made from cotton, polyester, and spandex allows sleepers to add or remove fill to adjust the medium firmness level.

Side sleepers on our testing team found that the Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow responded well to gentle shaping while maintaining support. Some back sleepers may also enjoy the contouring for the neck and support for the head. The shredded fill makes the pillow quite moldable, so sleepers can readjust fill to get support where they need. But it also retains its shape quite well, preventing you from having to fluff it as often. With a mix of temperature neutral latex and breathable down alternative polyester, the pillow also earned high marks from our testers who sleep hot.

The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is a luxurious choice if you're looking to splurge on your new purchase, but high-quality materials and a durable design justify the high sticker price. Fill composed of long-strand mulberry silk provides the same deep cushioning as shredded foam or down, but without losing shape or trapping heat. A pill-resistant cover adds to the Silk Pillow's appealing construction.

As we noted during our team's hands-on tests, this pillow has a unique feel compared to many competing models on the market today. The silk fill is both plush and supportive, creating a surface for your head and neck that one tester likened to ultra-fine mesh. We also noticed how cool and breathable the pillow felt. This can be attributed to both the viscose cover and the pure silk fill. One downside to the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is ease of care – you should only have it dry cleaned and never wash or dry it in a household machine.

Measuring roughly 5.5 inches thick, the pillow offers enough loft for side sleepers. Back sleepers also receive the support they need without neck strain. Hot sleepers should find the pillow comfortable, as well, because the cover is made of moisture-wicking fabric and the silk fill retains very little heat. Another aspect of the pillow that impressed us was shape retention. The fill doesn't clump like down or down alternative, allowing the pillow to spring back to its original shape when compression is removed. 

If you're a side sleeper who struggles with neck pain, the Sijo CloudSupport Pillow is thick and supportive enough to accommodate your desired position and alleviate sore spots around the neck and shoulders. A solid latex core ensures light cushioning and a noticeable bounce in response to compression, allowing your head and neck to remain aligned with the rest of your spine.

You'll notice the latex pushing back against your head and neck when compression is applied, and the pillow sinks very little beneath your weight to maintain a full shape. Latex isn't very moldable, and the pillow springs back to its original form as soon as you get up. Temperature control is another defining quality. The viscose cover feels cool to the touch, while the aerated core promotes plenty of airflow to keep the pillow's interior at a comfortable temperature.

Many of our team members prefer latex over traditional memory foam because it doesn't sink too much or mold closely to your figure. The solid latex core of the CloudSupport Pillow feels exceptionally buoyant, allowing you to lie on your side without your head and neck slipping back and out of alignment with your spine. At 6 inches thick, the pillow should provide ample loft for most side sleepers – and a number of back sleepers on our team also liked how the pillow kept their heads aloft. Breathability is another key strength. Between the ventilated latex and moisture-wicking cover, this pillow sleeps quite cool.

If you're a side sleeper who runs hot in bed, the Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow checks both of these boxes. The cover is made of Outlast, in innovative textile infused with phase change material that captures and releases body heat when it comes into contact with your skin. Two firmness levels are available – most side sleepers on our team preferred the thicker, firmer design.

The UltraCool Pillow lives up to its name with a breathable, moisture-wicking cover and down alternative fill that doesn't retain too much heat. During temperature control tests, our team was greatly impressed with how cool and comfortable the pillow felt. We also appreciated the multiple firmness options. We expect most side sleepers will prefer the medium firm, 5-inch model because it provides the loft needed to keep their head and neck aligned with the rest of their spine. The same is true for combination sleepers who switch between the side and back positions. That said, combination side and stomach sleepers may prefer the softer 4-inch pillow.

Two designs are available. The medium firm pillow provides light cushioning, but won't compress too much beneath the weight of your head and neck. This design measures 5 inches thick. The medium soft pillow has a 4-inch profile and sinks a bit, making it ideal for stomach sleeping – and less so for side sleeping. Both designs feel luxuriously cool to the touch. Since the pillow contains down alternative fill, you'll need to fluff it regularly to maintain a full shape.