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The 11 Best Pillows for Side Sleepers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Finding a pillow that feels comfortable is one of the most important steps in creating your ideal bed, especially for side sleepers. That’s because people who sleep on their side generally require more head and neck support than other types of sleepers, which is due to the large gap between their head and mattress. 

“If you sleep on your side most of the night, you want a pillow that supports your head enough to keep it in alignment so it’s not tipping down toward the mattress,” says Natalie D. Dautovich, Ph.D., a fellow at the National Sleep Foundation.

We’ve tested 117 pillows to date, evaluating them on quality, breathability, durability, overall value, and most importantly, their effectiveness at providing support and comfort for side sleepers. For expert insight, we spoke to Dr. Dautovich, Chester Wu, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist and psychiatrist; Valerie Cacho, M.D., an integrative sleep physician; and Philip Schneider, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall Pillow for Side Sleepers:
SALE

Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Pillow at Amazon
$76
$63

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Best Budget Pillow for Side Sleepers:

Linenspa Memory Foam Pillows at Amazon
$22

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Best Splurge Pillow for Side Sleepers:

Saatva Latex Pillow at Amazon
$185

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Best Pillow for Side and Stomach Sleepers:

Sleep Number True Temp Pillow at Amazon
$110

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Best Memory Foam Pillow for Side Sleepers:

Coop Sleep Goods The Original Pillow at Amazon
$75

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Best Down Alternative Pillow for Side Sleepers:

Slumber Cloud Core Down Alternative Pillow at Amazon
$69

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Best Orthopedic Pillow for Side Sleepers:
SALE

Uttu Sandwich Pillow at Amazon
$49
$40

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Best Overall Pillow for Side Sleepers

Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Pillow

Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow

PHOTO: Amazon
What Stands Out

  • This adjustable and supportive pillow stays cool throughout the night.

What Could Be Improved

  • The return window is only 30 days.

We gave the Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow high marks across the board for its customizability, cool-to-the-touch feel, and supportive construction. We were impressed with its ability to relieve pressure and maintain its shape while remaining comfortable to sleep on. Thus, we think it makes the perfect pillow for anyone who sleeps on their side, as it provides ample support without compromising plushness or softness.

Since the pillow is made with shredded memory foam filling, you can add or remove foam from the inner pillow to adjust it to your preferred loft and firmness—it even comes with a bag of additional filling if you prefer an extra-firm pillow. The manufacturer recommends side sleepers first try the pillow as-is, and then add or remove filling as needed.

The perforated bamboo cover remained cool to the touch and only rose 4 degrees Fahrenheit after we laid on it for 15 minutes. And unlike most memory foam pillows, this breathable option is entirely machine washable.

For side sleepers, in particular, this cooling memory foam pillow provides significant support to keep your head and neck in alignment and checks off all the extra boxes—including breathability, easy cleaning, and adjustability. After six months of use, this pillow was still supportive, comfortable, and cooling—though it flattened out a bit, you can always add more fill. During real-world testing, we particularly liked how comfortable it was to switch from side sleeping to stomach sleeping. 

Firmness: Adjustable | Fill: Shredded memory foam | Cover: Bamboo | Return Policy: 30 days | Machine Washable: Yes

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