Cuddle Up To The Best Pillows For Side Sleepers, Tested By Our Editors

Fill: Shredded memory foam, microfiber | Trial period: 100-night sleep trial | Firmness: Adjustable

Buy if: You want a customized experience with your pillow loft where you can remove and add fill

Skip if: You want a down-like feel or prefer a pillow made with a firm slab of foam

For the vast majority of side sleepers—and all sleepers, really—you can’t go wrong with the adjustable Coop. It has a customizable design, which lets you add or subtract fill to find the perfect level of loft and firmness (and every pillow comes with a bag of extra stuffing that the company calls “Oomph”). While adjustability makes this pillow a great fit for a wide range of sleepers, note that it can take a little trial and error to find what works for you. Regardless of your preferred feel, the shredded, cross-cut memory foam is contouring, while the non-toxic microfiber adds a touch of airiness. It’s also CertiPUR-US and GreenGuard Gold certified for safety. The cover is removable and machine washable, and the inner pillow can be machine washed for easy maintenance as well. Also worth noting: The Coop was named our tester’s favorite in our best pillows story.

What the testers say: “The Coop Home Goods Pillow was one of the more comfortable memory foam pillows I tested,” contributor Margaret Eby writes in her best pillows review. “I’m usually a stomach sleeper, but recently I’ve been trying to sleep on my side to help with back pain, and I found that the Coop Home Goods Original Loft Pillow was the easiest pillow I found to make that transition.”

Expert tip: Prominent side sleepers may want to keep most of the filling in the pillow, especially if you have a heavier body type.

Fill: Shredded memory foam, polyester fiber | Trial period: 30 nights | Firmness: Adjustable

Buy if: You’re an eco-conscious buyer, like the idea of an adjustable pillow and/or sleep hot

Skip if: You want a pillow with a longer trial period like others on our list

Eco-friendly and supportive, the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow includes many features side sleepers appreciate. Like the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, the Nest arrives overstuffed and can be customized to fit your needs by adding or removing the CertiPUR-US-certified shredded foam fill, though Nest recommends trying it as-is if you’re a side sleeper. Bonus: Each pillow ships with a complimentary fill bag that the company calls a “pillow egg,” which can store about half of your pillow’s fill. Our favorite feature, though, is the eco-friendly cooling cover that’s made with polyester, spandex and Nest’s proprietary Icecore fabric—a polyethylene-treated blend of cotton and Tencel. Plus, it comes in a latex version if you want something other than memory foam.

What the testers say: “I’m a dedicated side sleeper who has been sleeping with the Easy Breather pillow on my bed on and off for years,” says deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala. “It’s the only pillow I’ve found that meets my particular sleeping needs, because it’s supportive but still offers a sinking-in cozy feel. I actually just replaced my older Easy Breather with a new one. I always come back to it.”

Expert tip: Don’t dry the cover on high heat after washing or it may warp and shrink. The pillow also comes slightly overstuffed.

Fill: Memory foam, cooling gel | Trial period: Not returnable; five-year limited warranty | Firmness: Medium

Buy if: You’re a hot sleeper who seeks optimal support

Skip if: You’re looking for a pillow with a more wallet-friendly price

Calling all hot sleepers—this Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow is made with side sleepers in mind, and it’s especially great for those who sleep warm. It has adaptive technology that contours to the shape of your head and neck. It has a medium firmness for strong support, which keeps your head properly propped up so you aren’t dealing with aches and pains come morning. But the real star of the show? This pillow has Tempur-Breeze Gel on both sides that helps keep it cool, so there’s no need to constantly flip and flop to find that beloved “cool side.” You can also often score a deal: The queen-size pillow is frequently marked down.

While the pillow as a whole can’t be washed, the cover is removable and can go right in the washing machine. One note: since Tempur-Pedic considers pillows personal items, it’s not eligible for returns.

What the testers say: “If you overheat at night, the Tempur-Cloud Breeze is a great option,” says senior strategy editor Katie Simpson. “I’ve slept hot for as long as I can remember. I’d flip my pillow over countless times, trying to find the cool side. With the Tempur-Cloud Breeze, I find that the surface stays cool all night.”

Expert tip: Flip it each night to maintain optimal support.

Fill: Latex, polyester fiber | Trial period: 45 nights | Firmness: Adjustable

Buy if: You’re prone to neck and shoulder pain when you wake up and want the option to adjust your pillow’s firmness

Skip if: You’re a combination sleeper who switches from their side to their stomach

Because the hips and shoulders bear the brunt of your weight in the side-sleeping position, some folks may find themselves plagued by a nagging pain in their shoulder. The Eli & Elm Cooling Side-Sleeper Pillow was designed specifically for supporting your head, neck and shoulders in the side-sleeping position. While most pillows have straight sides, this pillow has a U-shaped design, which hugs your neck and shoulders for better support and maximum relief. While that’s great for dedicated side sleepers, it may not be the best fit if you’re also a combination sleeper—something to keep in mind as you consider your options.

We also like that the Eli & Elm is adjustable, so sleepers can customize the density to achieve their preferred loft and firmness. Simply unzip the cover and remove as much of the latex and polyester filling as you’d like.

What the testers say: “Thanks to the polyester fluff and small noodle-shaped latex foam filling, it’s the perfect blend of support and comfort,” says mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon. “You can almost squish and morph it like a down pillow, but it never falls flat. My shoulder fits snugly within the U-shaped opening, and it can accommodate most body types because of its adjustable fill.”

Expert tip: The pillow feels firm at first but softens with time.

Fill: Shredded latex | Trial period: 45 nights | Firmness: Medium-firm

Buy if: You’re eco-conscious or drawn to tall, substantial pillows

Skip if: You prefer a lightweight, soft option or you’re on a budget

The high-loft latex pillow from Saatva is hotel-quality and helps support your head, neck and shoulders. Though it isn’t adjustable, this Saatva pillow has a loft of about six to seven inches—ideal for holding the head and shoulder in line with the rest of your body for many side sleepers (though it may be too tall for those on the petite side). And because its core contains natural latex, the pillow is hypoallergenic, breathable and resistant to dust mites and mildew. Latex has a naturally buoyant sensation, and it’s a temperature-neutral material as well, making this a good fit for side sleepers who run hot. Plus, a machine-washable cover made of breathable cotton makes for easy maintenance.

What the testers say: One of our side-sleeping editors uses the Saatva pillow in alternate ways. “I use it more as a body pillow to hug my side because it feels so comfy and yet supports my side-sleeping shape,” says Sala. “It feels like a high-end hotel pillow and is breathable, not hot at all. It’s important that the cover is washable, as I have wicked dust mite allergies.”

Expert tip: Wash the fiber pillow insert twice a year for maximum freshness.

Fill: Shredded memory foam, kapok fibers | Trial period: 30 nights | Firmness: Adjustable

Buy if: You flip between sleep positions, sleep hot or want a down-like feel

Skip if: You’re a heavy side sleeper who needs more loft

For sometimes-but-not-always side sleepers, the Layla Kapok has it all: softness and support, sustainability, adjustability, washability, hygienic and cooling features and, of course, great customer reviews. It’s stuffed with a blend of kapok fibers—a responsibly sourced natural plant material with a down-like feel—and body-molding memory foam for a mix of cushiness and adaptive support. The fill is plush and airy, but it doesn’t skimp on the support side sleepers need. Plus, side sleepers who switch to their stomach should also appreciate the adjustability of this pillow; simply remove some of the filling for a lower loft. (Stomach sleepers shouldn’t rest on a pillow with a high loft as this can cause them to strain their neck.) We also like the polyester/viscose blend cover, which is soft to the touch and breathable. According to Layla, the Kapok is “the only cooling pillow you’ll ever need,” and thousands of five-star reviewers agree.

What the testers say: One of our contributors is a combination side and stomach sleeper who calls the Layla Kapok Pillow “comfortably plush and cooling, especially for side sleepers.” 

Expert tip: Fluff the pillow daily to maintain its shape and comfort.

Fill: Memory foam, polyester fibers | Trial period: 365 nights | Firmness: Plush, mid-plush or firm

Buy if: You want an adjustable pillow with a classic feel and a lengthy trial period

Skip if: You’re a big and tall side sleeper who needs more loft

The Marlow Pillow offers a blend of features to create a comfortable headrest. This pillow is stuffed with a memory foam and polyester fiber fill, with a twist on the adjustability offered by other options on our list. Instead of adding or removing fill, you can adjust the firmness by simply undoing the side zippers (there’s a mesh panel to keep the fill inside). Zip it all the way shut for a firm feel, open it on one side for a medium feel or open both sides for maximum plushness. No matter what you choose, the pillow has a traditionally plush, supportive feel. Plus, its memory foam core is infused with cooling technology to help prevent night sweats. We also like the generous trial window—Brooklinen gives you a full 365 nights to decide if this is the pillow for you. On the downside, it’s spot clean only, and some reviewers found it too stuffed for their liking.

What the testers say: “While I favor my stomach during sleep, I do transition to my side,” says Dillon. “The Marlow Pillow is on hand on my bed as my secondary pick to help keep my head propped and supported when I’m on my side. The fill gives it a comfy, blended feel where it’s not firm like a block of foam, but it doesn’t fall flat like down, either. I’ve tested over 30 pillows and chose to sleep with the Marlow on my bed because it’s such a great pick.”

Expert tip: Our editors found that the Marlow Pillow feels its comfiest and most supportive for side sleepers when both zippers are up.