Best Pillow For Side Sleepers

If you sleep on your side the right pillow can be the difference between a good night's sleep and a crick in your neck. A side sleeper is especially vulnerable to waking up sore and not well rested. The perfect pillow for someone who sleeps on their side is different from person to person, but some pillows are better than others. We took a look at all the leading pillows and found the best pillows for side sleepers, depending on their budget, sleeping warmth, the preferences they have and other sleeping characteristics.

The importance of sleep has been chronicled in the book Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by author Matthew Walker. A bad nights sleep can ruin your day, make you less productive, give you headaches, etc. the book is a great read and one of the most important healthcare books of the last decade.

Someone who sleeps on their side needs more support than someone who sleeps on their back or stomach. When sleeping you want to keep your spine fairly straight. You definitely do not want your head at a sideways angle from a pillow that is too tall or a pillow that is too short. Everyone has slightly different shoulder width, so the number of pillows and the pillow size will depend on your body. If you are unsure which pillow to buy, look for a pillow that is a little shorter and that way you can always place it on top of a second pillow. There is nothing that you can do to fix a pillow that is too tall.

The most comfortable pillows for side sleepers:

Tempur-Pedic Ergo Neck Pillow

This is a memory foam pillow specifically designed for side sleepers. It gives full neck support while keeping the head elevated and the spine perfectly straight. If you exclusively sleep on your side, and maybe at times on your back, this is a pillow specifically designed for you.

The ergonomic design of this pillow will allow all of your neck and shoulder muscles to relax while you sleep. People who sleep on their side tend to sleep with some of their neck muscles engaged. This is because most pillows do not cradle the head. This pillow gives full support to not just the head, but also the neck, fully relaxing your upper body.

This is a firm pillow, which is exactly what is needed by people who sleep on their sides. Stomach sleepers should get a super soft pillow, and back sleepers can get any type of pillow. But when you sleep on your side you want a pillow which will provide the firmest support possible.

This pillow is made in the USA, with great quality products. Tempur-Pedic is an extremely successful mattress company. They use the same NASA developed technology in this pillow.

If you have a memory foam mattress, you likely already understand why this pillow is the first on our list. Give it a try and see just how much better you will sleep.

The only thing to understand with this pillow is that it is made from memory foam. This will not feel like a traditional pillow. Instead if feels most like a sponge. I have gotten used to memory foam pillows like this one very quickly, but I can understand why it would not be for everyone. Even so, I urge you to buy this pillow and try it out for a week. I bet you will feel better rested.

Wellrest Density 233 Thread Count Quilted Sidewall Pillow (Extra Firm)

If the idea of a memory foam pillow is not to your liking, this is the best priced alternative. This is a more traditional pillow, and is actually a lot more affordable then the Tempur-Pedic pillow (get a set of two for around $30).

This is an extra firm pillow perfect for side sleepers. Again, if you sleep on your side you need a pillow that will be firm enough to keep your head raised and your spine straight throughout the whole night. This pillow is designed to do that, though it does lack the neck support that the Tempur-Pedic pillow has.

The Wellrest Density pillow is filled with a high quality polyester fiberfill. It stays firm through the night and is hypoallergenic. It's easy to care for and can be thrown into a washing machine. The sidewall is quilted with reinforced corroded edges, making this a very durable pillow.

When buying a pillow, you should look for a pillow specifically designed for the way you sleep at night. Wellrest Density pillows are specifically designed for three different sleeping types: side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers. Each pillow is specifically designed for each sleeping position. If you are a side sleeper, buying a pillow specifically designed for you is especially important.

This pillow is the best bang for your buck. However, if you are not an "average" body type, then you may want to get one of the adjustable pillows (Scrumptious Side Sleeper or the Coop Home Goods pillow).

The Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow

This is another interesting design for side sleepers. The pillow is curved to support you whether you sleep on your back or side. This pillow also has a zipper opening where you can adjust the amount of fill in the pillow. This means you can make the Scrumptious Side Sleeper pillow as firm or soft as you like. Everyone's body is different, and being able to adjust a pillow until it is just right is fantastic.

This pillow is also specifically designed to keep the sleeper cool. While down pillows are made to be soft and warm, this pillow is made to be soft and cool. The trick the company uses is to fill the pillow with special copper infused foam. The copper keeps the sleepers head and neck cool, while providing great comfort.

If your bedroom is warm, or you tend to sleep hot at night, this is a great pillow. The position you sleep in is only one factor of what type of sleeper you are. If you run hot when sleeping, this is the pillow for you.

Coop Home Goods Pillow

This is Amazon's highest rated pillow. It's loved by thousands and has a 100% guarantee. It is made in part with bamboo, which is a natural, sustainable material.

What makes this pillow great is that it is fully adjustable. It comes with extra filling, and you simply open the pillow and add or remove as much filling as you like. This means that someone who needs a firm pillow (side sleeper) can add extra filling and make this pillow extra firm.

As I mentioned previously, everyone has a different sized body, so not all pillows will fit everyone. Smaller people or children need a shorter pillow than taller and wider people. The Coop Home Goods pillow will let you adjust the amount of filling to make it the perfect pillow for you.

Though this pillow is not specifically designed for someone sleeping on their side, it can be perfected to your body. You decide how firm of a pillow you really need. An adjustable pillow is a great idea. It's one of those things that seem so obvious and you wish you had thought of yourself.

If you're having trouble finding a pillow that fits your body, get this pillow and adjust it until it is perfect.

Puredown Premium White Goose Feather and Down Pillow

Do you have a down comforter? They're amazing. A down pillow can also be fantastic. Real down pillows are soft and warm. However, they are not the best for side sleepers. The reason is that down tends to compact, so even a seemingly tall down pillow will compress into a short pillow when you lay your head on it. As a side sleeper, you should look for firm pillows. Down pillows are not firm.

However, if you do insist on getting a down pillow, the Puredown feather and down pillow is going to be the best. This would be a great pillow for someone who sleeps on their back and occasionally sleeps on their sides. What makes this pillow exceptional is that it is mostly goose feathers, not goose down. Feathers are more firm that down, so this pillow is actually one of the most firm down pillows you can get. It has the qualities of down, but is more suitable for side sleepers than more other down pillows.

Goose feathers are also cheaper than down, so this pillow is super affordable.

Again, this is a good pillow for someone who really wants a down pillow, or for someone who usually sleeps on their back, but shifts over to their side from time to time.

All of the pillows on this list are great. You need to figure out which one would be best for your particular sleeping situation. I personally like the memory foam pillow, but I would be happy to sleep on any of these pillows. You can also get multiple pillows. A cooler pillow for summer and a warmer pillow for winter.