9 Best Pillows for Side Sleepers, According to AD Experts (2026)

Even if your bedscape looks dreamy, you actually need pieces that’ll help you fall and stay asleep. Take the best pillows for side sleepers, for example. These are specifically designed to provide more neck and shoulder support, acting as a cloudlike cradle for your upper body. If this is the position you’re constantly turning to, know there are tons of benefits to sleeping on your side—like reduced snoring and sleep apnea—but it’s still important to have a sleep setup that gives you the best spinal alignment.Our Top PicksBest OverallPurple Harmony PillowRead MoreBest DownBoll & Branch Down Chamber PillowRead MoreBest Cooling PillowCoop Sleep Goods Cool+ Adjustable PillowRead MorePittsburgh-based Premier Chiropractic Clinic owner and chiropractor Brian Meenan, DC, regularly advises his over 1.5 million followers on TikTok and treats patients for sleep-related pain everyday. According to him, the right pillow for a side sleeper should put the least amount of stress on your spine and neck. “You want your neck mostly in neutral, not bending too far to the right or left when lying on your side,” he says. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, who posts recommendations to over 2.5 million TikTok fans as @ladyspinedoc agrees that neck support makes all the difference for pain relief. “I often see patients with neck and back pain that worsen during side sleeping,” she says. “I recommend a good supportive pillow to keep their neck in perfect neutral alignment during sleep.”“The most common complaints for side sleepers are shoulder, jaw, and hip pain,” echoes Alyssa Hickey, DC CACCP, who specializes in pregnancy care and posts on TikTok to over 400,000 followers. “I always suggest a pillow that will prevent your shoulder from rolling in,” she explains. “This will support both the neck and shoulders, decreasing the likelihood of carpal tunnel or at least expanding the amount of time you have before symptoms arise.”To help you enhance your sleep quality, we’ve rounded up nine of the perfect pillows for side sleepers—including recommendations from sleep experts, picks with positive customer reviews, and options AD staffers have tried themselves. And to complete your sleepscape, pair these pillows with a soft memory foam or hybrid mattress, and prepare for sweet dreams.Our Top PicksMore AD-Approved PillowsHow We TestedFAQsBest OverallPurple Harmony PillowFill material: Ventilated Talalay Latex with Polyester Knit Cover; Hyper-Elastic PolymerCover materials: 92% Nylon Fiber, 8% Spandex Fiber, Moisture-wicking treatmentCare instructions: Cover: Machine wash cold separately. Air Dry. Core: Spot clean only.Great temperature regulation, down alternative fill, moisture-wicking coverDoesn’t favor down for sleepers looking for ultra-plushness“I prefer a more dense and firm pillow for side sleeping,” says Dr. Hickey, whose pillow of choice is the Purple Harmony Pillow. “Trying pillows out is so important,” she adds. “A good choice for a side-sleeping pillow will always allow your head to remain centered on your shoulders.” Contributor Kelsey Borovinsky (a side and stomach sleeper) is also impressed by how well Purple’s Harmony pillow holds its shape. She says it’s a great fit for anyone looking for firm support. “If you like a Tempur-Pedic–type pillow that’s really solid and supportive, or you are in the market for one to support other parts of your body, this would be a great option,” Borovinsky notes.Best DownBoll & Branch Down Chamber PillowFill material: Triple-washed, IDS certified down fillCover materials: CottonCare instructions: Wash as needed in cold water on the gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low. It may take two to three cycles to fully dry. Do not iron or steam.Perfect balance of softness and support, made of sustainably sourced materials, comes in several density options for customized comfortMight take a couple of cycles to fully machine dryAnother one of the best bed pillows for side sleepers is undoubtedly the down chamber pillow from Boll and Branch, which is available in three densities: soft, medium, and firm. The soft density is recommended for stomach sleepers, the firm density is recommended for back sleepers, and the medium density is recommended for side sleepers. I’m a side sleeper and stomach sleeper, and while I started with just one down pillow from Boll & Branch, I slowly but surely made my way to four. It embodies everything I want in a pillow: clean materials mean I’m not breathing in scary chemicals overnight, careful seaming and substantial fill keep it looking buoyant and proper on my bedscape, and besides that the firmness is perfect for me. It’s a pillow you can really sink into but without the neck pain when you wake up. It remains cool at all times—I’m not sure how—and I can squish it underneath me or rest royally right on top when I try my hardest to be a good back sleeper.Lifelong side sleeper and long-time contributor Kristi Kellogg sleeps on the medium density pillow, and reports that it’s the best down pillow she’s tried. “I can attest that sleeping on your side is a dream on this pillow,” she says, adding that it is fluffy and gently cradles her head. “There’s plenty of cushion and support beneath your head, but there’s enough give for you to melt into the pillow and drift off with ease. It reminds me of the pillows you find in the very nicest hotel rooms.”Best Cooling PillowCoop Sleep Goods Cool+ Adjustable PillowFill material: Plus-shaped memory foam with gel and microfiberCover materials: Polyethylene/PolyesterCare instructions: Machine wash cold for shell, spot clean only for fill.Cooling outer shell, versatile for combination sleepers, customizable fill allows you to make this pillow your own“So many AD editors love Coop’s signature adjustable pillows, so I wanted to give the collection a try,” begins senior shopping editor Nashia Baker. “Even though people sing the praises of the original since it’s fluffy and supportive, I think this pillow takes it up a notch because of the cooling gel-infused foam.” Indeed, Coop ranks highly across our pillow content, but over 14,000 positive reviews from Amazon customers would seem to solidify its rankings even outside our staff. “It’s instantly cool to the touch,” says Baker, “almost like that feeling your skin gets when you open the refrigerator door, so I’ve truly never overheated with this on my bed.” Even using half the fill, Baker says this feels like a hefty pillow with potential to be super firm. This also suits her as a combination sleeper, perfectly comfortable for those nights when she sleeps on her back, and it also comes in handy to prop her up when she’s working or reading in bed.Best OrganicNaturepedic Organic Side Sleeper PillowFill material: GOTS-certified natural LatexCover materials: 100% organic cottonCare instructions: Machine Wash and Dry (Outer Cover)Ideal for tall sleepers, comes with extra adjustable latex fill, naturally airy coverMight be long for some sleepersThis pillow landed in our best-of Naturepedic roundup for its shredded organic latex fill and breathable cotton cover, as well as its peculiar shape that lends itself perfectly to pain-free sleep. Contributor Rachel Fletcher says this is the perfect pillow for tall people, as it provides support at the neck and near the hip—though it comes down more towards her thigh. And yet—she still lauds it as a favorite, especially as someone who doesn’t like a super-firm pillow. But then again—”it does come with extra fill in case you want to stuff it up a bit and increase the firmness,” she adds. Short sleepers, keep scrolling.Best Memory FoamPhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertTempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud PillowFill material: Tempur-MaterialCover materials: 100% polyester knitCare instructions: Cover: Remove and wash with gentle detergent and cold water. Air drying is best, but you can also put it in the dryer on a cool setting. Do not overdry. Core: To refresh, gently roll and unroll the insert to allow air through the pillow. Do not tightly compress for an extended period.Conforms to support your neck and shoulders, foam is soft yet firm, the pillow is moldable and easy to compress and take on the goPolyester cover isn’t as soft to the touch or breathable as bamboo viscoseTempur-Pedic’s proprietary material is a body-conforming foam the brand uses for their popular mattresses, toppers, and pillows. As a side sleeper, contributor Yelena Alpert was pleasantly surprised by the Tempur-Cloud Pillow’s soft-yet-firm balancing act. “It nestles under my neck in just the right way and contours all around,” she explains. “I never feel like my neck is jerked up at an angle.”Referring to the foam as kinetic sand’s “pillow cousin,” Alpert adds that the material is especially comforting for her husband who battles with neck pain. “[He] has been using it as well and has not had any tightness in the morning whatsoever,” she says. Plus, she notes its shape retention after over two months of testing. “It looks as good as new,” she shares. “No sloping or loss of shape.”Best AdjustableBrooklinen Marlow PillowFill material: 80% polyurethane foam, 20% polyester fiberCover materials: 100% cotton sateen fabric shell, 100% polyester mesh gussetsCare instructions: Spot clean recommended. Dry clean if needed. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Keep your pillow’s filling distributed evenly with daily fluffing.Reasonable price point, adjustable design, and a great choice for people who regularly host overnight guestsIf you already know your ideal firmness, you might not need such a versatile designIf you’d rather not fuss with fill, Brooklinen offers a customizable alternative. The Marlow Pillow has zippers on either side, which you can unzip to adjust the firmness level. The formula is simple: Keep both zipped for firm, one unzipped for medium, and both unzipped for plush. Alpert has tested a number of pillows, but admits that she keeps going back to the Marlow because it’s so versatile, supportive, and easy to use. “I was like Goldilocks, testing out every loft level each night,” she says. “I have one zipper open for medium firmness that makes this side-sleeper happy.”This could also be a great pick for your guest room, appealing to a wide range of sleepers. “It’s the pillow for someone who can’t make up their mind,” Alpert says, later adding, “The value on this is so good you’ll have extra money to splurge on fancy sheets.”More AD-Approved PillowsPhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertPhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertLuxome LAYR Customizable PillowFill material: Gel-infused and CertiPUR-US memory foamCover materials: Natural viscose from bambooCare instructions: The outer cover and insert covers can be washed on the gentle cycle with like colors. All filling should be removed before washing. Tumble dry on low or no heat to prevent any natural shrinking. Remove immediately.Comes with three inserts to find the best firmness, cooling materials make it ideal for hot sleepers, and washable quilted cover gives it a plush feelRounded corners don’t align well with most pillowcasesAnother pillow for indecisive sleepers, the Luxome LAYR comes with three inserts: one soft with a down-alternative fill, one medium with a combination of down-alternative and shredded memory foam fill, and one firm with solid memory foam. The brand encourages mixing and matching to get the best feel, and Alpert found her sweet spot with the medium and firm inserts. “Because these adjust to my body and weight, my head gently sinks into the pillow, creating a gentle slope for the area of my shoulders and neck,” she says. “The flat foam is on the bottom and the shredded foam insert is on the top.” After six months of testing, Alpert hasn’t noticed any wear, and says she occasionally refluffs by moving around the memory foam.Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex PillowFill material: Talalay latexCover materials: Tencel Lyocell fibersCare instructions: Remove the cover, machine wash on a gentle setting, tumble dry low or lay flat to dry. We recommend only spot cleaning the pillow insert.The pillow feels firm, offers back support, made with sustainable latex and eucalyptus materialsSome customers find the pillow to be too thickLatex pillows that hold their shape are another good choice for side sleepers or those with back pain. Although Brooklyn Bedding’s very bouncy Talalay latex pillow is a great firm-support option for the neck and shoulders, I personally think it’s ideal for extra back support. “If you prefer sleeping on your side, it helps to place a pillow behind the upper back to kind of prop you up so that you do not roll onto your back,” Dr. Meenan says. “This takes less pressure off of the shoulder joint.”Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable PillowFill material: Memory foam fillCover materials: Polyester, bamboo-derived viscose rayonCare instructions: Wash in cold water. Gentle cycle. Do not use fabric softener or bleach. Tumble dry low.Adjustable fill, ideal for any sleep position, ultra-cushiony comfort, available in different shapes, including a crescentThe mini pieces of fill can be messy to clean up afterCoop also makes a classic adjustable pillow that can be customized to your personal preference—especially if you’re a side sleeper who needs a truly supportive pillow (enough of this fluffy stuff). Filled with a combination of foam and microfiber stored in a washable cover, over 46,000 Amazon reviewers have given this pillow five stars. Both our shopping director Lori Keong and our shopping producer Lauren Arzbaecher are big proponents of Coop’s pillows. Arzbaecher calls it “life-changing—the memory foam and microfiber combo has helped with movement isolation so I don’t wake up with a stiff neck anymore.” Cut-out and crescent styles take it one step further. “The shredded fill is thick (without that 'block of foam' feeling that some memory foam pillows have) and substantial,” says Arzbaecher.How We TestedIn pursuit of the best pillows for side sleepers, we corralled our staff’s side sleepers and combination sleepers to determine what made the cut for us. We made sure to test across price ranges, from dubiously-priced Amazon favorites to more premium options. To get a sense of the full sleep experience, we tested each of these for at least a month or more. We also evaluated customer reviews across the market to make sure we were testing side sleeper pillows that met the needs of a careful and conscious shopper.FAQsWhat Pillow Types Are Best for Side Sleepers?Crescent-shaped pillows, like the Coop Sleep Goods Cool+ Adjustable Pillow, are designed to cradle the head and neck, and leave extra space for your shoulders. More than the shape, however, we’ve found that the firmer the pillow, the better support for side sleepers—and experts agree. One 2021 Harvard report explained, “If you sleep on your side with a soft pillow that doesn’t provide enough support under your neck, your head has to extend sideways to meet the pillow.” In 2024, a Mayo Clinic study noted that it’s best to have a pillow between your knees to “help align your spin, pelvis and hips.” With this in mind, a full-length body pillow could help keep you in alignment throughout the night if needed.What Features Should I Look for in a Pillow for Side Sleepers?Given the guidance mentioned by experts above, side sleepers should look for medium to firm pillows that can offer plenty of cushioning and spinal alignment. Take note of the pillows that retain their shape, too, since those will provide consistent comfort. Customizable options like the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow and Luxome LAYR Customizable Pillow with adjustable loft are also popular for side sleepers since you can get the firmness level just right.What Is the Best Pillow Height for Side Sleepers?In one 2024 study published in the Medical & Biological Engineering Computing peer-reviewed medical journal, nine side sleepers tested varying pillow heights. The conclusion was that high loft pillows (with a height of 11.76 to 13.78 centimeters, or 4.63 to 5.425 inches) “showed the highest average comfort score.”