When it comes to sleep, the quality of your pillow is a game-changer—especially if you sleep on your side. Finding the right pillow can mean the difference between waking up refreshed or dealing with aches and pains all day long. As a side sleeper, you need proper support for your head, neck, and spine to keep everything aligned while you rest. In this guide, we’ll explore the best types of pillows for side sleepers, and I’ll share some highly rated products available on Amazon that have received rave reviews from satisfied customers.
Why Finding the Right Pillow Matters for Side Sleepers
When you sleep on your side, your neck, spine, and head need proper alignment to ensure you don’t wake up feeling stiff or sore. Unlike back or stomach sleepers, side sleepers have a larger gap between the mattress and the head, meaning you need a pillow that’s firm enough to fill that gap. The right pillow keeps your neck straight, relieves pressure on your shoulder, and supports proper spinal alignment.
If you’ve ever woken up with a crick in your neck, it’s likely due to a pillow that wasn’t providing the support your body needs. Finding the right pillow may involve a bit of trial and error, but getting the right one can dramatically improve your sleep quality and overall well-being.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pillow for Side Sleeping
Before diving into specific pillow recommendations, let’s look at what factors you should consider when choosing a pillow for side sleeping.
- Loft Height: You’ll want a pillow with a higher loft, ideally between 4 to 6 inches, so that your head and neck are properly supported and aligned with your spine.
- Firmness: A medium to firm pillow is best for side sleepers because it helps prevent your head from sinking too far into the pillow, ensuring consistent support.
- Material: Memory foam, latex, down, and hybrid options are all great choices for side sleepers, each offering different levels of support and comfort. We’ll explore some of these materials in the recommendations below.
- Shape and Adjustability: Some pillows are adjustable, allowing you to add or remove filling until it’s just right for you. Other pillows come in contoured shapes specifically designed to help maintain proper alignment.
Types of Pillows for Side Sleepers
1. Memory Foam Pillows
Memory foam pillows are popular for side sleepers because of their excellent ability to conform to your head and neck, providing tailored support. The material reacts to your body heat, molding itself to the shape of your head and neck for personalized comfort.
Recommended Product: Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow
The Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow is an excellent choice if you want customizability. This pillow is made from a blend of memory foam and microfiber, allowing you to add or remove the filling to adjust the loft height and firmness to your liking. With over 50,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.6-star rating, many users rave about its versatility and comfort. Plus, it comes with a hypoallergenic and washable cover, which is a big plus if you suffer from allergies.
2. Latex Pillows
Latex pillows are a great choice for side sleepers who want a durable, supportive, and breathable option. Latex tends to stay cooler than memory foam, making it ideal if you’re a hot sleeper.
Recommended Product: Talatex Talalay 100% Natural Premium Latex Pillow
The Talatex Talalay 100% Natural Premium Latex Pillow is crafted from 100% natural latex, offering an ergonomic design that helps relieve pressure while maintaining perfect spinal alignment, ensuring restful nights. Many users appreciate its durability and breathability as the breathable latex core promotes airflow, keeping you cool, while the luxurious, removable Tencel cover adds a touch of softness and elegance. Unlike memory foam, latex bounces back quickly, meaning it doesn’t lose shape easily and maintains consistent support throughout the night.
Check for more details for the Talatex Talalay Latex Pillow on Amazon
3. Buckwheat Pillows
If you’re open to trying something a little different, buckwheat pillows offer an unconventional but highly effective form of support. Filled with buckwheat hulls, these pillows are very firm and provide excellent airflow, which helps keep you cool.
Recommended Product: Sobakawa Traditional Buckwheat Pillow
The Sobakawa Traditional Buckwheat Pillow is an Amazon favorite for those who want to experiment with this unique pillow type. It’s adjustable, allowing you to add or remove the buckwheat hulls to find your perfect loft. The firmness of the buckwheat provides incredible support for side sleepers, and many reviewers mention how it has helped alleviate neck pain. This pillow is heavier than most, but the benefits are well worth it if you’re looking for a natural, supportive option.
4. Contoured Pillows
Contoured pillows are specifically designed to support the curve of your neck, keeping your spine aligned while you sleep on your side. These pillows often have a dip in the center to cradle your head, with raised sides to provide extra support.
Recommended Product: EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow
The EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow is highly rated on Amazon for its ergonomic design. It features a contoured shape that helps relieve neck and shoulder pain, making it ideal for side sleepers. It has a breathable memory foam filling that keeps you cool while giving you just the right amount of firmness. Many reviewers love the neck support it provides and have found it helpful in reducing discomfort.
5. Down and Down Alternative Pillows
Down pillows are softer than other types, making them a great choice if you prefer a plush, cushioned feel. However, you’ll need to make sure it has enough loft to provide the support you need as a side sleeper. Down alternative pillows mimic the feel of down but are more affordable and hypoallergenic.
Recommended Product: Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow
The Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow is one of the most popular down alternative pillows on Amazon, boasting over 100,000 five-star reviews. It’s plush and luxurious but still has enough loft to support side sleepers. The gel fiber filling provides a good balance of softness and firmness, making it a comfortable choice if you prefer a softer pillow but don’t want to sacrifice support. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, making it ideal if you have sensitivities.
How to Adjust Your Pillow for Optimal Comfort
If you’re still not sure which pillow is right for you, an adjustable pillow might be the best option. Adjustable pillows allow you to modify the loft by adding or removing filling, which can be especially useful if you’re trying to find the right support level for your head and neck.
The Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow and the Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow mentioned earlier are both excellent choices if you like to have complete control over your pillow’s height and firmness. Simply open the zipper, add or remove the filling, and keep adjusting until you find the sweet spot that gives you the perfect balance of comfort and support.
Maintaining Proper Spinal Alignment
When sleeping on your side, your pillow’s role is to keep your head and neck in a neutral position. You want your spine to be aligned from your tailbone to your head, avoiding any unnatural curves or angles. A pillow that’s too thin or too thick can create strain on your neck, leading to pain and discomfort in the morning.
To maintain proper alignment, here are a few additional tips:
- Use a Second Pillow Between Your Knees: This helps keep your hips aligned, preventing lower back pain.
- Don’t Let Your Shoulder Sink Too Much: Your shoulder should stay in a neutral position, not bearing too much of your body weight. The right pillow should help keep your shoulder off the mattress.
Cooling Features: Stay Comfortable Throughout the Night
As a side sleeper, you may also want to consider cooling features to ensure a restful sleep. Memory foam, while supportive, can sometimes retain heat, causing discomfort during warmer months. Look for pillows with gel-infused memory foam or cooling covers that help dissipate heat.
Recommended Product: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow has two cooling gel layers, making it perfect for hot sleepers. The cooling technology keeps the surface temperature regulated, while the supportive memory foam core provides excellent support for side sleepers. Reviewers love the combination of cooling comfort and supportive firmness, and it’s a popular choice for those who tend to sleep warm.
Check for prices of sizes KING and QUEEN on Amazon.
Hypoallergenic Options for Sensitive Sleepers
If you’re an allergy sufferer, you’ll want a pillow that’s hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. Memory foam and latex tend to be naturally hypoallergenic, but many other pillows also come with hypoallergenic covers that protect against allergens.
Recommended Product: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Pillow
The Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Pillow is an excellent hypoallergenic option. It features shredded memory foam filling, which you can adjust, and a bamboo cover that’s highly breathable. It’s a great option if you want something that combines comfort, support, and protection from allergens. With thousands of reviews on Amazon and a 4.5-star rating, this pillow has earned high praise from side sleepers who appreciate its adjustability and allergen protection.
Final Thoughts: Which Pillow is Right for You?
Finding the right pillow as a side sleeper is all about ensuring proper support and alignment for your neck and spine. Whether you prefer memory foam, latex, down, or something adjustable, the key is to choose a pillow that keeps your head in a neutral position, prevents strain on your shoulder, and provides enough loft to fill the space between your head and the mattress.
If you’re not sure where to start, consider an adjustable option like the Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow or something ergonomically designed like the EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow. For a more natural option, the Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow offers great support, while the Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow is perfect if you prefer a plush, hotel-like feel.
Ultimately, the right pillow will help you sleep more comfortably and wake up without aches and pains, setting you up for a better day. Consider your personal preferences, whether it’s adjustability, cooling features, or hypoallergenic properties, and try out a few until you find the perfect fit. A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can invest in—and finding the best pillow for your sleeping position is a key part of that investment.