Best pillow for side sleepers – tried and tested for good sleep posture

The best pillow for a side sleeper is one that allows the head, neck, and spine to rest in perfect alignment.

When you lay on your side to sleep, your posture should be the same as if you were standing up straight. That means you need a pillow that's high enough to tuck between your ear and your shoulder to keep your head lifted without your head being angled up or down.

This is why finding the best pillow as a side sleeper can be difficult, as our height tends to dictate our shoulder width, meaning one size pillow doesn't fit all. The good news is that as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past four years testing over fifty pillows (and counting) to track down the very best side sleeping options.

Overall, the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow is one of my top choices thanks to its stable support that reduces neck pain and its availability in four different depths to suit all heights of sleepers. But, depending on your sleep preferences, there are plenty more options on my shortlist to help you find the perfect fit.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best pillows for side sleepers. You'll find more information on each pillow and why I recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

The best pillow for side sleepers

Best pillow for side sleepers overall

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Finding a pillow that's the right height is *the* most important factor if we're a side sleeper, and the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow makes this far easier than any other pillow I've tested because it's available in four heights. I simply input my height and mattress tension into the online tool on the Levitex website and it advised which of the 8, 10, 12, and 14cm depth pillows would suit me best.

Once the pillow arrived, it was indeed exactly the right depth to fit snugly against my shoulder and support my head. Because this pillow is made of a firmer foam than any other pillow in this round-up, I also found it very stable. It kept my head in its optimum posture all night long rather than the filling gradually shifting or dropping. This firmer feel also prevented me from slumping forward or back as my body relaxed.

On the downside, that foam meant I found this pillow a little utilitarian feeling. Unlike the Panda, Tempur, and scooms options in this round-up it doesn't have much squish factor so it doesn't feel particularly luxurious, but then it's designed for a function; to keep the head firmly supported to avoid any neck pain, and that, it does very well.

It's also a reasonable price. Not cheap, but not extravagantly expensive. Plus, a generous sleep trial means there's plenty of opportunity to test out if it's for you before you commit. All in all, if you're a side sleeper who always sleeps on your side, this is my top recommendation. If you're a side sleeper who changes sleeping position in the night, read on.

Best pillow for side and back sleepers

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It's all very well finding the best pillow for side sleeping, but what if, like me, you're an active sleeper who likes to swap from your back to your side during the night? In this case, a lot of pillows will leave you stuck, as side sleeping requires a high pillow and back sleeping a lower one.

That's why the Kally Sleep Neck Pain pillow is such a great find. Its clever butterfly-shaped design is specially formulated with a lower, curved centre section to cradle the head and neck whilst back sleeping and higher sections on the left and right to support the head when side sleeping.

I immediately found this pillow super comfortable in both sleeping positions and, like the Levitex pillow, its firm feel offers brilliant support that keeps the neck stable through the night so it's ideal for anyone suffering from neck pain.

The only downside is that it may be a little too low for those with wider shoulders. It's just high enough for me at 5'9" and thanks to its gently sloping design it will suit those who are shorter, but if you're over 6 foot, it will likely be too low for you. It's also small in general, and doesn't fill out a pillowcase that well.

However, it's one of the most affordable options I've come across, and it comes with a 14 night sleep trial, so it's definitely well worth a try if you're a side and back sleeper who is 5'9" or under. If you're an active sleeper who is taller, consider the (sadly more expensive) Tempur Original SmartCool Pillow further down this list.

Our Kally Sleep Neck Pain Pillow review has more detail.

Best budget buy

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If you're a side sleeper looking for an affordable pillow, this is the best value option I've found. And for once, more affordable doesn't mean a compromise on comfort, because this is a great pillow.

Its memory foam inner isn't quite as firm as the first two options in this round-up so it lacks a little stability, but its blocky design still tucked nicely in between my shoulder and neck and kept my head at a good height during the night with only a little sinkage into the memory foam core.

I also appreciated that bit of extra squish, as this sleep surface has more give than the first two options. However, whether that makes it as supportive is up for debate.

The main downside of this pillow is that it only comes in one height option. That means it's likely to be too low for taller side sleepers or those on a firmer mattress, and too high for shorter side sleepers or those on a soft mattress.

Luckily, there's a sleep trial. So in my opinion this pillow is well worth testing out to see if it's the right dimensions for you. If it is, you're in luck and can bag a bargain, if not, and you can afford to invest a little more, the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow offers far more height options (and a firmer feel that you may prefer).

Find out more in our Panda Memory Foam Pillow review.

Most versatile pillow for side sleepers

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The Tempur Original SmartCool Pillow has a lot going for it. It comes in three height options that make finding the right fit for your height and mattress tension easier, and it's suitable for both side and back sleepers, so it's a good option if you're an active sleeper who changes sleeping position in the night.

Its main downside is its price. At £149, this pillow is quite the investment, and significantly more expensive than anything else in my round-up.

Despite Tempur's attempts to cool this pillow down with a specially designed outer cover, I also still found it slept warmer than other options on my list, although it didn't cause as much overheating as many other synthetic and memory foam pillows I've tested, so that cooling does work, just not *quite* enough for this hot sleeper.

But it is a comfortable pillow. Its memory foam core is squishier than most so it's a good option if you prefer a pillow that isn't too firm, and I found its ergonomic shape very comfortable to sleep on, although its softer, malleable memory foam core does mean it lacks some stability, so those with neck pain might struggle.

All in all, its versatility will make it a great option for many sleepers who's preferences aren't quite nailed by other options on this list. And, a 30-night sleep trial at least makes that pricey investment a lot less risky.

Most luxurious pillow for side sleepers

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The downside of being a side sleeper is that for optimum support you generally need to swap out any soft and squishy pillows you may enjoy snuggling into for one with much firmer support.

Keeping your head well supported should be the main goal to avoid neck pain, but sometimes, a functional pillow can feel a little... well, basic. This is probably why the Panda Hybrid Bamboo pillow has elicited sighs of delight from all the side sleepers I've given it to.

It's a far more luxurious pillow than most of the rectangular box pillows generally recommended for side sleeping, and although, yes, it is a little low and perhaps a little too squishy to offer optimum support, if it happens to be the right height for you (sadly it only comes in one depth) then it's a dreamy sleep surface.

That's because its malleable memory foam core is covered by a cover made of silky quilted bamboo rayon. It means it offers a surface your head sinks into a little, and is overall a softer experience. In fact if only the inside was height adjustable it might be the perfect side sleeping pillow.

As it is, it all comes down to whether its the right height for you. But, a 30-night sleep trial will help you to work this out.

Get the full details in our Panda Hybrid Bamboo Pillow review.

Best soft pillow for side sleepers

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There's a reason most pillows for side sleepers are firm or medium-firm, and that's because the head is heavy and needs good stable support.

But, there's no denying a soft pillow is a delight to sink into for many of us, and there's no pillow more soft and sumptuous than a high-quality feather and down pillow, like this option from scooms.

The reason I think this soft pillow can still work for a side sleeper is because it's so plumptious and well-filled that it kept my head raised throughout the night, with less sinkage than any other feather and down pillow I've tried.

It's softer filling does mean there's less stability for the neck, so my neck muscles did need to work a lot harder than when I slept on the firm Levitex or Kally Sleep pillows, but, if you just can't get comfortable on a firm sleep surface, this is a great alternative option.

As a hot sleeper, I also found this feather and down pillow the coolest sleep surface to rest my head on. It beat every other pillow in this round-up when it came to breathability.

The downside (there had to be one of course!) is that it's expensive and there's no sleep trial available. But, if you know you love the feel of feather and down but you're just struggling to find the height for side sleeping, this pillow could be 'the one'.

How I tested

In order to thoroughly test the pillows in this round-up, I've slept on each pillow on my own bed for at least two weeks – in most cases far longer – to assess it for comfort and support when side sleeping.

After a stint as a front sleeper, I recently returned to sleeping on my side after advice from an osteopath (and every other sleep expert I've spoken to in the last four years!), so this round-up includes all the pillows that have made that transition easier.

Amy Lockwood

I'm Amy, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, and over the past four years I've slept on over 50 different pillows (and counting) to find the best-in-class. All in all, that's over 10,000 hours of at-home pillow testing!

In compiling this guide I also took into account third-party reviews to see how other owners were finding their pillows, and assessed each pillow's value for money and any sleep trials on offer.

How to choose

When it comes to how to choose a pillow, the main factor to consider is your sleeping position because that dictates the type of pillow that's the best fit for us. These are the main factors to consider when shopping for a pillow as a side sleeper.

Pillow height: If we're a side sleeper it's all about pillow height. That's because we need our head, neck, and spine to be in good alignment whilst we sleep. Our posture should be the same whilst we're side sleeping as if we were standing up straight.

As Kora Habinakova, sleep and bedding expert from bedding specialist Sleepseeker, clarifies, ‘The purpose of a pillow is to support your head and align your neck and spine while you lie down’. Misalignment between the neck and spine can create ‘discomfort, stiffness, and even pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. It can also exacerbate existing spinal conditions or lead to new ones over time.'

However, this can be a challenge, as everyone’s shoulders are different widths. Wider shoulders mean that we're likely to need more pillow height to keep our neck straight once we're laid on our side and narrower shoulders mean we'll need less pillow height, so sometimes it can take a little trial and error to get the correct height.

Mattress tension: You also need to factor in body weight, and how soft your mattress is when considering pillow height. As Kora explains, ’Lighter individuals are less likely to sink into the mattress and tend to prefer medium-thick pillows that will help to promote optimal spinal alignment. Those with heavier weight considerations are more likely to experience sinkage and may find a thinner pillow helps keep the head level with the spine.’

Pillow firmness: As side sleepers, we also need a stable pillow, and that generally means the best type of pillow filling for a side sleeper is a firm filling, like foam or a firmer memory foam. That's because we need our head to be kept lifted up all night, and softer fillings can shift and allow our head to drop, putting strain on the neck.

Sleep trials: Because of these factors, my biggest tip when choosing a pillow as a side sleeper is to look for one that comes with a sleep trial. A sleep trial sleep trial may differ slightly by retailer, but most allow you to purchase the pillow, sleep on it at home for a set number of nights, and return it for a refund (or sometimes exchange it for a different option) if you find it doesn't suit you.

This is invaluable, as we can otherwise waste a whole lot of money on pillows that don't offer enough support.

FAQs

Which pillows are best for side sleepers?

The best pillow for a side sleeper is one that allows the neck and spine to rest in perfect alignment. That means finding a pillow that is the right height for your body frame, with those with wider shoulders requiring a higher pillow than those with a narrower frame.

Should side sleepers use two pillows?

When it comes to how many pillows you should sleep with, sleep experts advise sleeping with one, and not two pillows, under your head. If you're a side sleeper that means you'll need one higher loft pillow that fits the gap between your ear and the bed to keep your neck straight.

Is a firm or soft pillow better for side sleepers?

Ultimately, whether you opt for a soft or firm pillow is down to your personal preference. However, most side sleepers are best opting for a pillow that's fairly well filled with a good loft. This is because a softer pillow filling makes the pillow more likely to become compressed during the night which can lead to the head dropping lower and a kink forming in the neck which can cause neck pain.

Should side sleepers sleep use a pillow between the legs?

Yes, many side sleepers will sleep more comfortably with a pillow between the legs to keep the hips stacked. As Kora from Sleepseeker explains, 'when sleeping on your side, your spine can pull out of alignment and cause pain in your lower back and hips’. Adding a pillow between your legs can help to prevent the lower back from twisting.