The 7 best pillows for side sleepers, according to a certified sleep science consultant

Best overall

The Coop Original pillow has consistently impressed america complete years of testing, making it not only nan champion pillow for broadside sleepers but nan best pillow we've tested overall. It meets each nan criteria that broadside sleepers request successful a pillow: it provides fantabulous support and offers afloat adjustability to cater to each individual's unsocial anatomy. 

Upon arrival, it comes pinch capable enough for broadside sleepers to effort as-is and a small container of other capable successful lawsuit you request much support. Should nan loft consciousness excessively precocious aliases excessively low, region aliases adhd filling to execute nan cleanable level of support and firmness.

The Coop Original is my absolute favourite arsenic a broadside sleeper. It combines comfort, support, and afloat adjustability. Plus, it holds Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certifications. The marque offers a 100-day refund policy, truthful you tin trial it earlier deciding if it's correct for you. 

Coop recommends washing nan afloat pillow astatine slightest erstwhile a year. I've recovered that drying Coop pillows tin beryllium a spot of a challenging task. It takes a mates of hours connected a debased tumble barren and aggregate cycles to guarantee nan full pillow, including nan core, is wholly dry. Fortunately, nan outer screen is easy to lavation for much regular maintenance. 

This pillow caters to each types of sleepers, whether your preferred sleeping position is connected your back, stomach, aliases side. It ensures due spinal alignment and provides basal support to alleviate backmost and cervix discomfort. Several members of our squad person not only tested but besides held connected to and loved sleeping connected this pillow for years. So it's nary astonishment that it is erstwhile again our apical prime for nan champion wide for broadside sleepers and my eventual favourite pillow. 

Read our afloat Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow review.

Best budget

The Casper Original pillow has a unsocial double-layer creation that offers a awesome equilibrium betwixt support and comfortableness astatine a comparatively affordable price. Its down replacement capable has a luxurious airy softness, making it cleanable for snuggling. The soul halfway offers bully support while nan outer ammunition provides a plush and cozy feel. 

This pillow has nan perfect mean loft for broadside sleepers, featuring a gusset that enhances its style and ensures nan support that broadside sleepers request to support due spinal alignment. It's designed pinch a breathable fabric screen that keeps sleepers cool and comfortable done nan night. The percale weave makes it consciousness luxurious and crisp. Cleaning nan pillow is simply a breeze, arsenic some layers tin beryllium easy washed connected a gentle cycle.

The Casper pillow has a removable layer, but I do not see it 100% adjustable. Removing that furniture would importantly trim nan loft, support, and alignment that are important for broadside sleepers. Over time, this pillow whitethorn create clumps and lumps, and Casper recommends a regular fluffing routine, which tin go somewhat time-consuming.

As a broadside sleeper, my acquisition pinch nan Casper Original pillow was pleasant. If you for illustration a soft, plush feel, you'll emotion it. Casper offers a 30-night proceedings and a afloat refund if you determine nan pillow isn't for you.

Read our afloat Casper Original Pillow review.

Best for cervix and backmost pain

The Eli & Elm Cotton Side Sleeper pillow earned our apical spot successful nan neck symptom category for its effectiveness successful reducing cervix symptom and encouraging due spinal alignment. It is besides crafted specifically for broadside sleepers. The ergonomic pillow features a set astir it to support its style and loft. The consequence is simply a supportive instauration that alleviates excessive unit connected nan shoulders without creating excessively overmuch caput elevation, and it's besides 100% adjustable.

The Eli & Elm Cotton Side Sleeper pillow did a awesome occupation astatine alleviating my cervix and enarthrosis tension, particularly aft a strenuous workout. While different pillows performed decently successful this category, nan Eli & Elm (alongside nan Coop), stood retired by providing nan champion musculus hostility relief. This tin beryllium attributed to nan pillow's unsocial ergonomic shape, peculiarly nan curved halfway that cradles nan caput and cervix and reduces unit connected nan shoulders. In my opinion, it lived up to its promises by encouraging bully spinal alignment and reducing discomfort successful nan neck, shoulders, and back.

Its adjustable capable is made from a operation of earthy latex noodles and polyester fibers that springiness it a cooling effect. It besides includes a removable screen made from soft cotton, blended pinch ultra-fine polyester and spandex. All materials are breathable and forestall power retention effectively. 

Individuals who for illustration traditional, non-shaped pillows mightiness request immoderate clip to get utilized to nan Eli & Elm pillow, and I wouldn't urge it to broadside sleepers who besides move to sleeping connected their tummy during nan night, arsenic it does not supply capable caput and cervix support successful that position. This pillow is connected nan pricier side, but it could beryllium a worthwhile investment. Fortunately, Eli & Elm offers a 45-day return argumentation truthful you tin effort it earlier committing.

Best cooling

Among nan pillows I tested, nan Purple Harmony decidedly stands retired successful position of cooling, making it 1 of nan best cooling pillows. Its airflow capabilities consistently kept maine cool done nan night, making it an perfect prime for broadside sleepers who thin to slumber hot. The soft and cushiony talalay latex core, mixed pinch nan caller mesh screen gives it an wide emotion of lightness and airiness that is incredibly comfortable.

This pillow does a singular occupation astatine staying cool and maintains a refreshing consciousness though nan night, it is admittedly 1 of nan champion cooling pillows I've ever tested. The cooling effect is owed to nan operation of nan tempered-neutral airy grid, ventilated latex, and moisture-wicking materials engineered to supply bully somesthesia regulation. It does require a play of accommodation owed to its unique build and materials, but it yet delivers fantabulous alignment and support. 

You tin prime from 3 lofts: low, medium, aliases tall. Purple suggests nan medium-height pillow for broadside and operation sleepers arsenic good arsenic those pinch mean to larger frames. It provided capable support for me, but broadside sleepers pinch larger frames whitethorn find nan gangly pillow much suitable. 

Ironically, my individual interest pinch nan Purple Harmony stems from its precocious level of innovation. It doesn't connection nan acquainted comfortableness of a soft, plush accepted pillow that I prefer, truthful it's not perfect for those who for illustration to cuddle pinch their pillows. While nan innovative engineering and cushioning exertion are impressive, it whitethorn not beryllium nan champion prime for those who favour a much accepted pillow. Shifting positions tin besides consequence successful a noticeable bounce done nan pillow, which whitethorn beryllium disruptive to some.

Purple offers a 100-night proceedings period, which is other valuable successful this lawsuit since it whitethorn return immoderate clip to get utilized to. It's worthy considering if you're a broadside sleeper who often experiences overheating and is simply a coagulated action for those who haven't slept comfortably connected accepted pillows.

Best down

After testing various down pillows for this review, I recovered nan Brooklinen Down Pillow to beryllium nan astir impressive. It offers an outstanding blend of loft, support, and firmness that broadside sleepers seek. This pillow genuinely has a luxurious, marshmallow-like consciousness dissimilar immoderate other. It comes successful 3 firmness options: plush, mid-plush, and firm. Brooklinen specifically recommends nan patient action for broadside sleepers, arsenic it provides nan astir loft. 

The ample loft ensured due alignment, reduced enarthrosis pressure, and comfortably conformed to my caput and neck. I particularly emotion its flexibility; down pillows typically person a much plush, adaptable feel, and this 1 combines that pinch sufficient, lofty support. I recovered that it strikes a equilibrium betwixt malleability and sturdiness, which broadside sleepers will appreciate.

Down pillows person a inclination to trap heat, which whitethorn not beryllium nan champion action for group looking for a cooling pillow. However, this pillow features a 100% fabric sateen screen that not only enhances its luxurious consciousness but besides promotes breathability. 

Although this pillow is supportive, it still feels very soft and plush. Individuals pinch larger assemblage frames whitethorn find it somewhat little perfect arsenic nan added weight could perchance origin nan pillow to compress more, resulting successful reduced loft and insufficient support for broadside sleeping. 

Down pillows, including this one, are not instrumentality washable; they tin only beryllium spot aliases dry-cleaned. I powerfully counsel utilizing a bully screen connected each pillows, particularly this one. With due care, a down pillow tin past for a mates of years. Over clip it whitethorn suffer its loft owed to nan earthy breakdown of nan down clusters. To forestall lumps, it's champion to regularly fluff and knead nan pillow.

Read our afloat Brooklinen Down Pillow review.

Best latex

While a little communal worldly for pillows, latex offers unthinkable support for those who for illustration a dense and patient pillow. As acold arsenic latex pillows go, nan Brooklyn Bedding pillow is simply a awesome choice. Constructed from wholly 100% Talalay latex, it is hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. Compared to different types of latex, Talalay is people much breathable, ensuring a cooler and much comfortable night's sleep. The strategically designed airways wrong nan pillow efficaciously dissipate power to further heighten somesthesia regulation. 

The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay latex pillow has lively and responsive qualities that I really enjoyed. Even though it's not peculiarly malleable (since it's an full coagulated artifact of latex foam), I was pleasantly amazed by its softness and bounciness. It besides offers fantabulous support: it consistently conforms to nan cervix and head, relieving unit points and reducing cervix tension.

Unlike different pillows, there's nary request to fluff this one, it remains free from lumps aliases flattening. Regardless of really overmuch it's scrunched aliases rolled, it ever retains its shape. While it's not adjustable, you tin take betwixt 2 lofts, debased and high, which are 5.75 aliases 7 inches, respectively.

The pillow insert tin only beryllium spot-cleaned, truthful you'll request a bully pillowcase to protect it. However, it does travel pinch a machine-washable screen that tin beryllium easy removed.

Best assemblage pillow

When placed betwixt nan legs and knees, the best assemblage pillow can thief broadside sleepers execute accordant assemblage support, trim strain, and beforehand spinal alignment. The Pluto Puff provides medium-firm support; it alleviates hep and knee pressure, ensuring a comfortable position for broadside sleepers.

My husband, who struggles pinch slumber apnea, reported nan Puff to beryllium incredibly adjuvant successful maintaining due alignment connected his caput and neck, pinch conscionable nan correct magnitude of elevation.

I peculiarly for illustration that nan pillow stays cool without overheating and is made pinch high-quality materials, including a fibre that mimics nan plushness of down and a smooth, silky pillowcase. It held its style complete clip while providing accordant comfort, due spinal alignment, and reliable support.

What to look for successful a pillow for broadside sleepers

Selecting nan cleanable pillow is simply a highly individual decision, but for broadside sleepers, it's important to attraction connected cardinal factors specified arsenic spinal alignment, caput support, and wide comfortableness to guarantee a bully night's sleep. Here are nan superior basal components broadside sleepers should support successful mind erstwhile choosing a pillow:

Loft and adjustability

Side sleepers should opt for a mean to precocious loft pillow to decently span nan spread betwixt their caput and nan mattress. This spread will disagree from person-to-person, truthful we urge opting for a pillow pinch adjustable fill. 

Alignment

Hayden told america that bully sleeping posture helps forestall accent points that whitethorn aggravate joints and connective tissue. A value pillow should connection fantabulous support for nan caput and shoulders, ensuring due spinal alignment while alleviating enarthrosis unit without excessive caput elevation. 

"I coach my patients to slumber connected their broadside pinch a assemblage pillow," said Hayden. "This keeps nan spine consecutive and aligned. A pillow nether nan caput should beryllium conscionable precocious capable to support nan caput level pinch nan mattress. The precocious limb and precocious knee are to beryllium supported by nan assemblage pillow to support nan spine consecutive while you sleep."

Firmness

Selecting nan correct pillow firmness is simply a matter of individual preference, but astir broadside sleepers for illustration a medium-firm consciousness and our picks bespeak that. Your pillow should beryllium patient capable to support due spinal alignment, but not truthful patient that it causes discomfort aliases greeting headaches. A bully pillow should contour comfortably to nan caput and neck. 

Materials/fill

The prime of pillow capable and materials tin effect support, comfort, breathability, and maintenance. Some fills are hypoallergenic, connection improved breathability, and varying levels of support. When opting for foam fill, cheque that it's CertiPUR-US certified for value assurance.

Temperature regulation

Side sleepers who get basking during nan nighttime should opt for a breathable pillow designed to modulate temperature. Some pillows moreover characteristic precocious technologies to efficaciously dissipate assemblage heat. 

Return policy/trial period

We urge only considering pillows that let you to return nan merchandise if you find it's not for you. Side sleepers whitethorn request to effort aggregate options to find nan cleanable fit, and you should springiness yourself astatine slightest a week to set to sleeping connected a caller pillow.

How we trial pillows

As a certified slumber subject advisor pinch years of acquisition successful slumber investigation and merchandise reviews, I cognize first manus nan value of a well-equipped chamber for a comfortable and patient night's sleep. To delve deeper into what makes nan champion pillow for broadside sleepers, we consulted experts for illustration Robert Hayden, DC, PhD laminitis of nan The Iris City Chiropractic Center and Nishi Bhopal, MD,, a committee certified psychiatrist and slumber specialist. Using their recommendations, I conducted a broad appraisal by testing much than 20 of nan champion pillows connected nan market, evaluating nan pursuing cardinal factors:

• Sleeping: I slept connected each pillow for 7 consecutive nights, assessing factors for illustration slumber quality, comfort, somesthesia regulation, support, and spinal alignment to supply insights connected each pillow.
• Materials and certifications: I noted each pillow's materials, looking for qualities for illustration hypoallergenic properties, breathability, certifications (such arsenic CertiPUR-US), and attraction requirements. 
• Cleaning: Pillows inevitably accumulate assemblage oils, sweat, and dormant skin, truthful cleaning is important to due slumber hygiene. I followed cleaning instructions for each pillow and assessed washing and drying difficulty. 
• Shape retention: I examined each pillow for lumps aliases clumping aft use, noting really often they required fluffing and whether they maintained their style and loft. This is peculiarly important for side-sleepers who trust connected accordant support.
• Return policy/trial period: I besides investigated nan return argumentation and warranty for each pillow, arsenic nary azygous pillow suit's everyone needs.

Side sleeper pillow FAQs

What benignant of pillow should broadside sleepers use?

According to Nishi and Hayden, broadside sleepers should opt for a pillow that supports nan head, cervix and spine alignment which will thief forestall accent points that whitethorn aggravate joints and connective tissue. Hayden besides suggests placing a pillow betwixt nan knees to thief support a neutral spine position. 

Should a broadside sleeper person a soft aliases difficult pillow?

Side sleepers should usage a pillow that is connected nan firmer side. Generally a medium-firm aliases patient pillow is best, said Nishi.

Do broadside sleepers request thicker pillows?

Nishi does not urge pillows that are excessively heavy aliases gangly because they tin tilt nan caput retired of alignment pinch nan spine. The pillow should beryllium heavy capable to capable nan abstraction betwixt nan caput and neck.

What type of pillow is champion for broadside sleepers pinch enarthrosis pain?

Using a U-shaped creation tin thief return immoderate of nan unit disconnected nan cervix and shoulders while keeping nan spine aligned, says Nishi. Additionally, Hayden recommends choosing a pillow that supports nan region betwixt nan enarthrosis and head. If nan pillow is excessively thin, your caput and enarthrosis are crunched together. If nan pillow is excessively thick, your caput is bumped up, straining nan alignment of your neck.