Best Pillows for Side Sleepers (2026) 

Why the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow is the Best Overall for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers who want the lift from their pillow just right can get it from the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow, our pick for the best overall pillow for side sleepers. The pillow comes with a high loft and is filled with memory foam that can be removed little by little to achieve the perfect level of lift for your neck and spine alignment. 

In particular, our product tester raved about this adjustable pillow, scoring it with a perfect 5/5 in nearly every category we tested: materials, experience, and value, to name a few. “This pillow is so luxurious, I thought it was a down-filled pillow, at first,” she added. As far as materials go, the Silk & Snow pillow actually uses its memory foam core surrounded by an outer shell of down-like microfiber to create a balanced feel of comfort and support.

How the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow Performed

Its quality construction also led our tester to give the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow another perfect score for experience. “This is one of my favorite pillows I have tried,” she said. “The microfiber gives a down feel that I like, but it doesn’t clump in areas or go flat. The pillow, overall, feels really supportive, bouncy, and plush.” Even the cotton cover felt cool to her as she tested.

The pillow comes overfilled, so be ready to remove a bit of the fill to get an appropriate, comfortable lift for side sleeping. Our tester, who is a combination back-and-side sleeper, was able to customize the pillow to her desired loft but found that even at its lowest point, it was still too high for stomach sleeping. “I’d like something a little flatter if I slept on my stomach,” she explained.

If it sounds good already, the price makes the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow even better. This affordable pillow typically retails for $75, but you can often find it on sale for less. When you consider the added free shipping, 100-night sleep trial, and three-year warranty, this pillow is a high-value sleep accessory.

The pillow’s only drawback is that although it has a machine-washable cover, Silk & Snow recommends spot-cleaning the outer shell with a mild detergent and then air-drying it. The memory foam fill shouldn’t be washed, but can be removed as the rest of the pillow airs out. It’s not the worst downside for a pillow, but something to note if you’re not a fan of excessive maintenance and care.

For a pillow with a lower loft, check out the Brooklinen Marlow.

Why the Saatva Latex Pillow is the Best Latex Pillow for Side Sleepers

Latex is a popular choice for eco-conscious sleepers looking for a hypoallergenic, breathable, and slightly buoyant sleep surface. If you’re looking for a latex pillow for side sleeping that’s more traditional-feeling than firm and bouncy, Saatva’s Latex Pillow is a great option. My fellow tester Cait Giddings described it as “thick and fluffy,” and thought it would work best for side sleepers. She enjoyed it so much that she gave it a perfect score for experience, and the pillow also earned a respectable overall score of 4.3/5.

The Saatva Latex Pillow is offered in two lofts, and Cait chose the higher one as a side sleeper, which comes out to 6 or 7 inches thick. “It delivers an ideal amount of support and pressure relief for those who like a high-lofted pillow,” she said. She did try it out on her back, too, and found it compressed enough to be comfortable for these sleepers. Stomach sleepers, though, should opt for the lower-loft option, which is 2 inches thinner.

How the Saatva Latex Pillow Performed

The pillow is made up of two layers—a cotton-swaddled microfiber fill and then a shredded latex core, which lends it its plusher, more luxurious feel. Cait found it added to the durability of the pillow, too. “I appreciate that the materials don’t separate and form a flat gap in the center like some other high-lofted pillows I tested,” she said. The microfiber fill layer is also adjustable, so the pillow comes with a clear bag if you choose to remove any of it. With all this in mind, she gave the pillow another perfect score for materials.

Cait also found that the instructions for washing the pillow came across clearly. After unzipping the cover, you’ll have to remove the shredded latex core. You can then machine-wash the outer cover and the outer fill layer. Saatva recommends air-drying the outer cotton cover. Aside from the brief Russian nesting doll situation, it should be a relatively painless process. Cait ultimately rated the care for this pillow at 5/5.

The main drawback to this pillow is the price tag. Saatva is a luxury mattress brand, so it’s no surprise that its sleep accessories follow suit. A standard size of this pillow costs $165 and a king costs $185, which is on the higher end, even for some latex pillows. Budget shoppers may want to look for more cost-friendly options.

We believe that the price is worth it if you can afford it, though. So, if you take the plunge, Saatva gives you 45 nights to decide if this is the pillow for you. It also comes with a one-year warranty for any issues that might arise, but with its quality construction, we expect it to outlast that timeframe.

Want a cheaper pillow? Check out Nectar’s Resident Pillow.

Why the Coop Original Adjustable Pillow is the Best Adjustable Pillow for Side Sleepers

An adjustable pillow can be great for side sleepers, since it can create the supportive high loft needed to properly keep your neck and spine aligned. The Coop Sleep Goods Original pillow gets our nod as the best adjustable pillow for side sleepers for this very reason. My colleague, Nicole Davis, who deals with self-described chronic neck pain, took this pillow for a spin and loved it, giving it a high overall score of 4.6/5. You can add or remove fill to shape the pillow to your liking, ensuring it slots nicely in that gap between your neck and shoulder and reduces the risk that you’ll wake up stiff and achy.

Nicole found that the shredded foam fill provided a gentle contour alongside its support, regardless of how she manipulated it. She gave it a 4/5 for experience, with the only negative being that she had to re-adjust before she lay her head down every night. Every morning when she woke up, however, she was pain-free.

How the Coop Original Adjustable Pillow Performed

The adjustability is a boon for combination sleepers: If you switch between your back and side, for example, you can remove the fill until the pillow has a loft that can accommodate both sleepers. Nicole claimed that this pillow should work for “just about everyone” with the level of customizability. The only folks who might be let down are those looking for a firmer feel, like that of a latex or particularly dense memory foam pillow.

All of the moving parts to this pillow were “well-made,” per Nicole’s assessment. She found the act of unzipping the pillow to poke around inside was seamless, thanks to the quality of both the cover and the zipper, itself. Everything felt “luxurious” and “heavy-duty.” She only docked a point in the materials department, as she couldn’t speak to the longevity after using it for a few weeks.

If you’re worried about how long this pillow will last, though, you should know that it’s backed by a five-year warranty—one of the more generous pillow warranties I’ve encountered. Coop also offers a 100-night return period, so you have nearly three months to decide whether or not you like this pillow. We also appreciated the $85 price tag, which is on the lower end for a luxury pillow. Nicole called it a “good value,” and gave the pillow a perfect score in this category.

Finally, if you decide to buy this pillow and commit to it, you might be curious about how to care for it. Nicole rated the care as a 4.5/5, since the entire pillow can actually be washed in your laundry machine. The outer cover can simply be removed and tossed in, while the inner core’s zipper should be secured with a safety pin before doing the same. This is rare to see from pillows, especially adjustable ones, so kudos to Coop for making the pillow easy to clean.

Want a firmer pillow? Check out the Bear Contour Pillow.

Why the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow is the Best Firm Pillow for Side Sleepers

If you like the feel of a firmer pillow, you might like the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow. I’ve slept on this pillow for years, and as a firm fan myself, the buoyant latex works great for side sleepers. My fellow tester Cait Giddings agreed, saying, “Out of all the pillows I’ve tested, this one is my favorite.” She gave the pillow perfect scores in materials, experience, and customer service, helping it to earn its overall score of 4.4/5.

Cait is a side sleeper and found this pillow had the “ideal feel” that suited her tastes perfectly. She got the higher loft, as is recommended for side sleepers. “It compresses easily under my head while also springing up against the hollow of my neck, so I feel fully supported,” she said. 

How the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow Performed

Cait also found that the pillow compressed enough to support back sleeping. She thought it might be still too thick for stomach sleepers who may want to go for the lower loft, or a different pillow entirely. I occasionally sleep on my stomach, and I usually stick to the very edge of this pillow for this reason, so I could see how others might find it too supportive.

Every aspect of the pillow felt “well-crafted,” per Cait, who gave it a 5/5 for materials. The Talalay latex is dense and thick, adding to the pillow’s durability. Cait also enjoyed the softness of the smooth knit cover, though Brooklyn Bedding has recently updated to a cooling cover. Even without the updated cover, Cait thought the pillow didn’t trap heat as she slept. The inside of the pillow remains the same, though, so the feel should remain relatively unchanged.

The cover is also machine-washable, so you can keep your pillow clean throughout its life. The inner latex core is spot-clean only, which is fairly common for this material. That’s why it earned a respectable 4/5 for care. 

With this level of quality and comfort, Cait found the $129 price tag “beyond reasonable,” and gave the pillow a value score of 4/5. However, it still may be a bit high for budget shoppers. Latex tends to drive up the price of an accessory, especially natural Talalay latex. The pillow comes with a 30-day trial period if you’re worried about committing to a larger purchase. After that, it’s backed by a generous three-year warranty (for which Cait gave another perfect score in customer service).

Looking for a more affordable pillow? Check out the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow

Why the Helix GlacioTex Cooling Pillow is the Best Memory Foam Pillow for Side Sleepers

Memory foam pillows are prized for their super-sinking, contouring, and pressure-relieving nature. They can also back this up with some dense, reliable support, which makes them a great choice for side sleepers. If you’re looking for a good memory foam pillow for sleeping on your side, check out Helix’s GlacioTex Cooling Memory Foam Pillow. 

It’s offered in two lofts, low and high, with the latter catered toward side sleepers. Our tester Sosha Lewis thought the high loft was even too high for her liking, so you should pick based on your own stature and preference. Sosha thought this pillow felt “durable and sturdy,” and rated both materials and experience at 4/5, helping the accessory to earn its 4.2/5 overall score.

How the Helix GlacioTex Memory Foam Pillow Performed

Sosha is a self-described lover of down pillows, so a solid memory foam block was out of her comfort zone. “I thought it was too high and too firm,” she admitted. Her husband, however, enjoyed the feel—especially on his back—so if you’re a combination back and side sleeper looking for firmer support, it could work great for you. 

Though the feel wasn’t for her, Sosha did appreciate the quality of the pillow’s construction, calling the materials “solid.” She described the cover as “slick but soft,” though noted it had more of a polyester feel than she’d prefer. “But that can be remedied with a pillowcase,” she added. The actual memory foam core had some heft, and she appreciated that it was perforated to allow for airflow, contributing to the pillow’s cooling capability and counteracting the natural heat-trapping effect of foams. 

The main cooling tech, though, is in the pillow’s cover, which is also where it gets its verbose name. The cover is woven with GlacioTex fibers, which are designed to absorb excess heat and pull it away from your body. More than that, this cover is also removable and machine-washable, for which Sosha gave the pillow a care score of 4.5/5. The inner memory foam core isn’t washable, but this is fairly common, so she only docked half a point.

If you’re still on the fence about whether this is the right pillow for you, Helix offers a 30-night sleep trial, so you can snooze on it for a month before committing. After that, it’s backed by a one-year warranty. 

Helix’s customer service is also easy to reach and helpful; Sosha had a question when she noticed her cover looked different from the one on the site, and a customer service representative named Felix quickly answered her concerns. If you happen to notice it too, just know the brand has made some small changes to the cover, but per Felix at Helix, “The feel and support remains the same.”

Want a softer pillow for side sleepers? Check out Sosha’s favorite, the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow.

Why the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling Pillow is the Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers

If you’re a side sleeper who sleeps hot, you may want to invest in a cooling pillow that works for your sleeping position. Enter Nectar’s Tri-Comfort Cooling Pillow: This adjustable pillow is filled with shredded memory foam and microfiber to allow for more airflow, staying breathable and cool as it contours to side sleepers’ neck and shoulders. 

Our tester Sosha Lewis said she was a “big fan of this pillow” and particularly loved how it felt on its softest setting, as well as its cool-to-the-touch cover. She gave the pillow a perfect 5/5 score for her experience, and the pillow ultimately earned a total score of 4.4/5.

How the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling Pillow Performed

This pillow was so cool (literally and figuratively) that Sosha’s husband almost stole it after trying it out for a few nights. “I thought we were going to have to arm wrestle for the rights to it,” she said. They both tried out each of the adjustable firmnesses, too. Fully unzipped had a softer feel, which Sosha preferred for side sleeping. Her husband enjoyed it half-zipped, which is the medium setting. 

Neither of them enjoyed it fully zipped, which was the firmest setting. Though Sosha isn’t a stomach sleeper, she gave it a whirl on that setting and decided that it could be a better fit for these sleepers. Combination sleepers, however, might struggle with the bulk and heft of this pillow when they want to move around. “It is kind of heavy, and when I used it between my legs, I had a hard time switching it from side to side,” Sosha noted.

Aside from feeling cool, Sosha also thought that the pillow was high-quality. She called the cover “soft, smooth, and durable.” The shredded memory foam and microfiber fill created a balanced feel that also delivered on support. “It sank in just the right amount and kept my spine aligned,” Sosha said. Unfortunately, the fill sometimes got caught on the zipper through the pillowcase, which Sosha wasn’t a big fan of, so she deducted half a point in her materials score.

Though the cover has zippers, they’re more for adjusting, not removal, which can cause some difficulty when caring for this pillow. Nectar says that this pillow is spot-clean only, which can make maintaining freshness a problem. However, Sosha only docked a point because she didn’t foresee it becoming an issue. She thought the cover’s material seemed pretty conducive to spot-cleaning. “I also don’t think it would easily stain, especially if you got to the spill quickly,” she said.

Still on the fence? Nectar offers a 30-night sleep trial with this pillow. If you decide to keep it after the return window passes, it’s backed by the brand’s one-year warranty.

Want a washable adjustable pillow? Check out Coop’s Original Adjustable Pillow.

Why the Mellow CloudAlign Pillow is Best for Budget Shoppers

Making a major splash on social media platforms like TikTok, the Mellow CloudAlign Pillow is a great option for side sleepers—especially if you’re on a budget. Although Mellow estimates the value at $100, it sells for about half that price depending on the color and loft of the pillow you purchase. Mellow recommends the Regular pillow for sleepers under 5 feet, 7 inches, while taller sleepers should go with the High option for a few dollars more. Either way, it comes out to be one of the most affordable options on this list, earning a 5/5 for value.

What also sets this pillow apart is its unique design engineered to support all sleeping positions. The CloudAlign has a higher “lift” side to suit side sleeping and a lower “soft” side for back and stomach sleepers. Wings along the edges can allow sleepers to settle their arms or hands along the pillow, too. “The material is really unique,” added our expert product tester. “It has the softness of memory foam but the springiness of latex, which is definitely something I haven’t felt before.”

How the Mellow CloudAlign Pillow Performed

Mellow promotes its CloudAlign Pillow as being hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and 100% vegan-friendly, and the cover is Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it’s been tested to be free of harmful chemicals. “The cover feels stretchy, a lot like Spandex,” our tester said, “But it doesn’t feel cheap or uncomfortable.” 

She rated the materials at 4/5, only because the cover and memory foam core didn’t seem exactly premium or luxury. “They’re using fancy terms and saying it’s vegan-friendly, but I can’t find any actual organic certifications,” she explained.

Still, the pillow felt great in all three sleeping positions, although side sleeping was our tester’s favorite. The CloudAlign earns a 4.5/5 in its performance, as the pillow had a slightly cool-to-the-touch feel and was comfortable throughout the night.

“When I scoot up to the wings, it’s really comfortable on my neck,” our expert tester said. “I’m able to nestle right in there and feel perfectly lifted and supported in this area.” She did note that some side sleepers may prefer the higher-loft version of the CloudAlign, and that—while comfortable for her—some stomach sleepers may want a lower loft, as well.

The cover is machine-washable, but unfortunately, there are no instructions for maintaining the foam core—not even spot-cleaning. Mellow does offer a 30-day trial and a nice lifetime warranty for the brand’s products, but just remember to sign up for the warranty within the 30-day trial period; otherwise, Mellow won’t recognize your warranty.

For more lift in your pillow, along with extra support, check out the Bear Contour Pillow, which has a U-shaped shoulder cutout to accommodate side sleepers.

Why the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow is the Best for Side Sleepers with Neck Pain

Most will advise that side sleepers with neck pain should stay away from down or down alternative pillows because they tend to be more fluffy than supportive. However, our tester Sosha Lewis is a dedicated side sleeper who loves the feel of down pillows. In testing out the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow, she felt that the pillow was lofty enough to support her while on her side. “It’s a higher pillow that allows just the right amount of sinkage to keep your spine aligned,” she said.

Upon opening the Peacock Alley pillow, Sosha added, “I knew we were going to have a great love story the minute I took it out of its packaging.” After spending a few nights on this pillow, Sosha gave its soft-but-supportive feel an experience score of 5/5, contributing to the pillow’s overall high score of 4.7/5. She also called it her new “favorite pillow of all time.”

Sosha said that upon unboxing the pillow, her first thoughts were about how luxurious the pillow looked and felt. The cover of the pillow is made of 100% cotton for a “soft yet crisp” feel, as Sosha put it. “Although I am no seamstress, I thought the stitching was high-quality,” she added.

How the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow Performed

The microfiber fill inside the pillow also effortlessly mimicked the feel of down. “It gave me the feel of down that I love without the pokiness or smell of down,” Sosha said. She found the pillows “fairly malleable while also being supportive.” With all this in mind, she rated the materials at another perfect 5/5 score.

As a dedicated side sleeper, Sosha found this pillow supportive enough for her, but her husband, a back sleeper, also tried out the pillow and found it comfortable in that position, too, saying it offered just the right amount of sink. She did note that it might be “a little too supportive” for stomach sleepers, who might prefer a lower loft.

Sosha’s glowing review was only helped by the price. “I was actually surprised they were under $100,” she said after giving these pillows another 5/5 score for value. She got two of the standard-size medium-feel pillows, retailing for $90 each. Peacock Alley also has a firm option, as well as king-size pillows, though these will push you to the $100 mark and over. 

The only downside I can find to these pillows is the policies that come along with it. Peacock Alley accepts returns within 30 days of receiving your product, so long as it’s in good condition. However, there’s no warranty offered by the brand. This isn’t too odd for pillows, but since some other options on this list have warranties or longer sleep trials, it may be a deal-breaker for more indecisive customers.

Want a longer sleep trial and warranty? Check out the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow.

Why the Bear Contour Pillow is the Best for Side Sleepers with Shoulder Pain

In order to keep your shoulders comfortable in a side-sleeping position, you’ll want a pillow that balances support with cushioning. One such pillow is Bear’s Contour Pillow, which features a curved bottom edge to contour to your neck and shoulders to keep the pressure off. It’s also got a double-sided cover: one side with a silky, smooth feel, and another with cooling fabric. My colleague Dan Caffrey thought this pillow was great for side sleeping, and his experience with the pillow resulted in it earning an overall score of 4.2/5.

Dan noted that this pillow had a firmer feel than he usually prefers for side sleeping, but he still really enjoyed it. He said the high loft was comfortable for his neck and spine, keeping both well-aligned and staving off neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. He thought the U-shape of the pillow added “a little extension” that you can tuck between your neck and shoulder for more targeted cushioning and pressure relief. 

How the Bear Contour Pillow Performed

That same U-shape acts as a gentle slope for your neck when you rest on your back. Dan also thought the pillow’s firmness made it easier to switch between side and back sleeping, as the pillow bounced back rather than leaving a divot like traditional memory foam. The actual fill is a mix of synthetic fibers, so it doesn’t have that same sink—something to note if you’re looking for a slow-moving, soft pillow.

Dan called this pillow “really sturdy.” He took special note of the detailed embroidery on the cool side, as well as the satiny smooth weave on the other, finding both of a high quality. The cooling side also kept Dan’s neck and head from heating up as he slept. There’s no zipper to be found on the pillow, which should keep the inner core well-protected. Dan was confident this pillow should stay intact for a “long, long time,” and gave it a 4.5/5 for materials.

However, because you can’t unzip this pillow, there’s no outer cover to wash. Instead, this pillow is spot-clean only, and the fairly detailed cover might make it more difficult to do so. Dan lamented this, giving it a 3.5/5 for care. He also found the unique shape of the pillow meant it wouldn’t fit snugly into a pillowcase, which means it’ll be more exposed to the elements if you forgo one. 

If your pillow does end up with any damages or defects, it’s backed by a very generous lifetime warranty—a rarity for sleep accessories. Before you commit, Bear offers a 30-day return window, as well. Be sure to take advantage if you’re still on the fence about the Bear Contour Pillow.

If you want a more traditionally shaped pillow, you might like the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow.