The 15 Very Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Fill type: 75 percent latex, 25 percent polyester fiber fill | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Shape: Contour

The standout feature of Eli & Elm’s side-sleeping pillow is a contoured 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.

A stomach and side sleeper, Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen 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 also’s more responsive and springy than many memory-foam pillows she’s tried, 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 the cutout perfectily, and which you can bundle with the pillow at the time of purchase.

Fill type: Down-alternative gel-infused fiber | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium | Shape: Rectangular

Sold in a two-pack for $60 — though you can often find them on sale for even less — Beckham Hotel Collection’s gel 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. The pillows come in two sizes, queen and king, and have a smooth and cooling 250 thread count cover.

Filly type: Shredded memory foam | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular

Memory-foam pillows are ideal for side sleepers, according to Foley, thanks 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 firmer 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 of this pillow, it’s 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 | Shape: Blocky cube

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. Former Strategist writer and side sleeper Latifah Miles tested this pillow and found that it delivers on its promise, nestling into the crook of her neck and up against the top of her 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 Miles has, as she’s 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.

Fill type: Shredded latex fill | Loft: Standard or high | Firmness: Medium-soft | Shape: Rectangular with gusset

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.” Miles slept on this pillow for several months and found that while the latex isn’t overtly cooling, it never made her 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. It doesn’t feel overly sinky or too contoured, and although you can’t unzip an inner case to adjust the fill, it isn’t too flat or overly stuffed. Miles tested the standard loft, which is roughly four-and-a-half inches high and worked well for both side and back sleeping, 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 | Shape: Contour

Like our top-pick Eli & Elm pillow, Coop’s cutout pillow leaves space to accommodate your shoulder so that the pillow 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. Miles tried the king size, and though it is technically an inch smaller in length and width than Coop’s king-size, rectangular Original pillow, which she also tested, she found 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. 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 | Shape: Rectangular

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 Miles 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 she slept on it, she didn’t overheat, either, and she really liked the feel of the meshy cover, which helped keep her from sweating. This pillow is medium-firm, and its medium-high loft kept her head in line with her spine while sleeping on her side. Miles 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 | Shape: Rectangular

Yes, water beds went out of style a few decades ago, but Alanna McGinn, founder and CEO of Good Night Sleep Site, and Toussaint-Keshinro both told us that water pillows deserve more notice for the neck support they can provide. 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 | Shape: Contour

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 the one on our top-pick Eli & Elm pillow — creates extra room for her shoulder, while the spongy core gently cradles her head. She says it creates a spooning sensation that takes strain off her upper body and that it has eliminated her night sweats (unusual considering that memory foam tends to trap her body heat). 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. Honeydew 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 | 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 for herself, the extra-tall gusset stood out the most as it ensured the pillow maintained its structure and fluffiness. Even when she flipped from her left side to her right, she didn’t need to fluff or readjust the down fill. This pillow comes in two sizes, standard and king.

Fill type: Polyester fiber fill | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium-firm | Shape: Rectangular with gusset

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 | Shape: Cylindrical

Schuler tells us side sleepers should focus on having proper support not only under their head but also between their knees to encourage that all-important alignment 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 is Miles’s favorite body pillow. The cylindrical, noodlelike Cuddler is extra long at 75 inches with a uniform eight-inch diameter that takes up far less space than many 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. Miles reports that even with daily use and constant twisting and bending, the Cuddler’s buoyancy has kept its shape and feel. 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 $129.

Fill type: Shredded memory foam | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium-firm | Shape: Elongated rectangle

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.