Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.
Kristen is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer and homebody. She specializes in home and lifestyle content, and loves helping others live their best lives at home and beyond. Romanticizing her life since 1987, you can probably find her sipping on iced coffee, crushing a Crossfit workout, designing her next dream space, or blasting Taylor Swift.
Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).
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Making sure your bed and bedroom are primed for rest and relaxation is a vital part of making your home happy and healthy — all of which we take seriously at Apartment Therapy. As the unsung heroes of the bedroom, pillows are typically one of those bedding essentials you don’t really notice until something’s wrong. If something is, it’s probably because your pillow isn’t the best for your sleep position. So, we got to testing. We’ve determined the best mattresses for different sleep positions, have a whole list of the best cooling sheets for hot sleepers, and tested a ton of silk pillowcases to find out which ones are worth it. We’ve even got a round-up of the best editor-tested pillows, but what about those best suited for the most popular sleep position? Side sleepers, this Best List was made specifically for you. Of all the dozens of pillows we’ve tested, these are the very best for side sleepers, from firm and ergonomic to soft and cuddly.
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As we mention in our complete guide to the best pillows, there are two main features to consider when shopping for one: firmness and fill. But when you narrow your search for the best pillow for you and you tend to sleep on your side — or even in multiple positions — shape becomes the third important aspect to consider. Altogether, a pillow’s shape, firmness, and fill contribute to its overall support, and for side sleepers, personalized support is key.
For a breakdown of the most common types of pillow fill, you can reference our complete guide. Once you know the basics of memory foam, gel, down, down alternative, and latex fill types, it’s time to chat about their pros and cons for side sleepers.
Memory foam: This common fill type tends to allow the head to sink into it. Keep in mind, leveling up the firmness of a memory foam pillow could also mean experiencing extra warmth from heat trapped by its density. This said, memory foam pillows in contouring shapes can help counter these effects and provide the head and neck more tailored support for side sleepers.
Gel: Gel is a form of memory foam — its longer name is “gel-infused memory foam.” The main benefit of gel is that it makes the foam much more breathable, which is great for sweaty sleepers who need a cooling material. It’s also a bit denser than memory foam, so it offers greater support for side sleepers.
Down: Down, made from the natural material found under the feathers of geese or ducks, tends to flatten over time. A high-quality down pillow with a firm feel can combat this in the short term, but since side sleepers require support, you’ll see more synthetic fiber fills in our list than natural ones. Real down material can also trigger allergies and/or ethical concerns for some.
Down alternative: If you want the same luxurious feel as natural down, there are plenty of down alternative options that are nearly identical to the real thing. The added benefit here is that synthetic down fill has less of a tendency to flatten over time, so lack of support is less likely to creep up on side sleepers.
Latex: Latex comes from the rubber tree and is a chemical-free alternative to foam. Soft, bouncy, and durable, it’s a high-quality material that typically has a higher price tag. It’s also hypoallergenic and anti-fungal, and it doesn’t absorb heat like foam does. Most organic pillows are made from latex, and it’s an excellent, sustainable fill option for side sleepers.
Because they work in tandem, it makes sense to think about pillow firmness and height in relation to each other. For side sleepers, a pillow’s height is possibly one of the most important factors: It has to be able to raise your head enough to align your spine without letting it sink throughout the night (or over time, for that matter). That said, if you’ve got a pillow with plenty of height that lacks firmness, you may still not be sleeping with a level of support critical for side sleepers. Because the space between our shoulders, neck, and head differs from person to person, our ideal fits can vary from piling up multiple soft pillows to sleeping on a single firm pillow with a taller height. As with most things, a little experimentation might be called for.
Tip: If you sleep in multiple positions, consider two pillows of different firmness levels: one suited for the position you fall asleep in and another nearby in case you toss and turn and need more or less support in the position you wake up in.
We tested a wide range of pillows for our list, judging them on the following criteria:
Our best overall pillow for side sleepers had a lot to achieve (not to mention some pretty particular editors to impress), and Cushion Lab’s Deep Sleep Pillow, with its gentle contouring and perfect medium-firm feel, comes out on the top of our list. Assistant shopping editor Britt says, “I was never really a sculpted-pillow person before, but the Deep Sleep Pillow has changed my mind. It has high and low neck supports and side-sleeper bolsters that create a cushioned cradle whether I turn to the left or right, as well as ample support when I am on my back. I’ve never before slept on a pillow that made me sigh in relief every time I change positions. I haven’t had any recent shoulder or neck aches, and I wake up feeling vacation-level rested. Deep sleep, indeed!”
Who It’s Best For: Those who want contouring without the obvious look of it; those who sleep in multiple positions.
Good to Know: Need several? When you shop multiple Deep Sleep pillows, you can save up to $20 off the total.
Commerce SEO editor Sarah began her quest for a new head rest when she “looked down at my pancaked pillow and I thought to myself, ‘Ouch — it may be time for an upgrade.’” Luckily for her, and for the rest of us, the upgrade comes in a pack of two and is available via Amazon for less than $50. “As a side sleeper, I knew I needed to find something with an ample amount of support for my neck,” Sarah says. Fern & Willow’s Premium Down Alternative Pillow Set became her “new go-to that was just right.”
“Not only did they provide outstanding neck support,” she continues, “but I was floored by how well they kept their shape. After a couple days, my neck pain was gone and I knew there was no turning back. In fact, when I went to visit my parents for a month, I ended up buying a set for their guest room. What can I say? I’m a ride or die when it comes to products that work for me.” And it’s pretty much what we’re all about at AT.
Who It’s Best For: Those who want the most bang for their buck; those who want a set of the same pillows.
Good to Know: Yep, these pillows are totally machine washable! Be sure to let them air dry for 72 hours before putting them back to use.
AT’s founder and CEO Maxwell can’t say enough great things about The PIllow Bar’s Down Alternative Side Sleeper Pillow. “I’m a side sleeper,” he says. “I chose four pillows from our list to get a sense of the differences, slept with each one, and came back very swiftly — spoiler alert — to liking the most luxurious, most expensive one.” Not only was Maxwell impressed by this luxe pillow, but two of his fellow testing editors also “joined me in this unanimous ruling, EVEN THOUGH we admitted that it would be hard to recommend this pillow to AT readers, since it would assuredly bring sticker shock. Nevertheless…” here we are recommending it. So, for side sleepers who are willing to invest, you’ve met your match.
It’s a down pillow — points for price justification — that’s also shaped like a boomerang so “your head is aligned with your spine to keep your blood flowing freely all night long. Problems result when this is not the case,” Maxwell shares. “I found myself quickly adapting to the unique shape of the pillow and the fact that a down pillow was quite firm (better to keep the head up). The pillow sits under your neck, but then slopes into your body in front of you, giving you a really nice feeling of an embrace.”
Who It’s Best For: Those who want something that fully contours around their head, neck, and shoulder; those who want something to help prevent excess movement.
Good to Know: The Pillow Bar recommends washing the cover once a week when you’re using it regularly.
Designed for side sleepers, the Pillow Cube has a wide range of unique, angular, and editor-loved pillows. Tack on the breathable poly-fiber fill that gives it such great support and noticeable temperature regulation, and it’s no surprise that the Ice Cube Cooling Pillow PRO wins our best cooling category.“I can lay on my side for way longer than I was able to before,” says Britt, “because the unique shape of the pillow fits in the curve between my neck and shoulder, relieving the pressure that would typically prompt me to roll over.” A wannabe side sleeper turned stomach sleeper, Britt could never get quite comfortable enough on her side. Now, after using the Ice Cube, she sleeps on her side more often. But this pillow doesn’t just live in her bedroom: “When I’m relaxing on the couch, I like to lay down on my side and watch TV, so I’ve been using the Ice Cube instead of the (less-than-ideal) sofa arm. I never thought I’d use a square pillow ever, but this is definitely a find that makes me so happy that I let my curiosity get the best of me.”
Who It’s Best For: Those who sleep hot and on their sides; those who want something supportive while lounging.
Good to Know: Pillow Cube recommends using a pillowcase on top of the Ice Cube’s cooling cover to protect it from possible pilling.
*Honorable Mention: The Layla Kapok Pillow. “Like the mattress, the pillow does NOT disappoint,” says AT contributor Emily. “I’ve tried other cooling pillows in the past, but none have this medium-firm density and are able to keep cooling through thick pillowcases! Definitely a 10/10.”
“The Easy Breather Pillow arrives at its firmest,” Britt says of our best adjustable pillow for side sleepers. “It’s packed with a mix of memory foam and polyester fiber, and it comes overstuffed on purpose. The point of the pillow is for you to adjust it to your liking by removing the fill, and it even comes with a complimentary cloth bag to hold any removed fill in case you want to add it back in later.” So far, so good. Not only is the pillow height and firmness adjustable, but its cover is cooling and machine washable, “so you end up with a versatile pillow that won’t need to be replaced as quickly as others,” Britt says, “which saves money in the long run.” Even better.
Britt adds that she’s impressed with the shape of the Easy Breather Pillow. “I’ve become more of a combination sleeper these days, alternating between my stomach and side, so a firm-but-not-too-firm pillow is perfect for me. To accomplish that with the Easy Breather Pillow, it just meant taking out a fraction of the fill to make it softer while preserving a supportive level of firmness.” Easy Breather, easy peasy.
Who It’s Best For: Those who change sleep positions; those who want the ability to change firmness and height as needed.
Good to Know: Nest Bedding advises making your Easy Breather “very soft first by removing a lot of fill… then add some back as you test to reach your optimal firmness.
When searching for the best ergonomic pillow for side sleepers, we hoped for something with a subtle shape that we could keep discreetly on our beds when they’re made and fit easily into the standard-size pillowcases we already love. Ultimately, though, it had to perform in terms of spine alignment throughout the night and allowing us to wake up pain-free. News & culture director Tara “likes that the Sleep Number Comfortfit Curved Pillow keeps its shape, is firm but not uncomfortable, and feels supportive no matter what position I am sleeping in. The curved shape creates a little pocket for your shoulder,” which is ideal if you’re a side sleeper and can prevent unnecessary tossing and turning. In fact, “my boyfriend said that he felt that he tossed and turned less frequently when he used it,” Tara says. “It was comfortable when I put my arm underneath the pillow as well.” It’s a uniquely shaped pillow that can still be used a number of ways — but we especially love that it maintains its unique shape night after night.
Who It’s Best For: Those who primarily sleep on their sides; those who want to prevent as much flattening over time as possible.
Good to Know: Not convinced this one’s for you? Sleep Number also has a Pillow Quiz that’ll help you land on the right one.
Unless you’re a cranky toddler, I think we can all agree that naps are good — wonderful, even. But when it comes to the type and style of nap, though, I’ve learned that people have strong opinions. Apartment Therapy’s editorial team is no exception. I challenged some of our staff to debate over their preferred nap spot, and try to convince everyone else that they have the superior sleep situation.
Check out how it all went down in our Slack conversation below [lightly edited and condensed].
Tara Bellucci (News & Culture Director): hello @here who’s ready to throw down about NAPPING
Megan Baker (Home Projects Director): ok which one of us is wrong, ie which one of us thinks bed naps are superior
Megan: i didn’t come to play
i came to lay
on a couch
Tara: ok let’s start with opening statements of 1-2 sentences of your position and go from there
Terri: several people are typing
Megan: ok here is where i stand: beds are for SLEEPING and a nap is not SLEEPING. a nap is in its own category entirely
Charli: If I’m at home, and not a hotel, couch naps reign supreme. When I go to bed, it’s an experience, and I don’t want it to be interrupted or cut short. My bed is my oasis. So when I need to nap, the couch is the perfect place. I feel like I’m sneaking in extra rest/self care. Like an added bonus.
Maddie: bed naps are far and away the superior naps, but you have to use a blanket on TOP of your covers. you can’t get under your comforter. that is only for night sleeping
Terri: i agree, comforters are NOT for naps
Adrienne Breaux (Tours Director): The reason why couch naps are superior: Naps are a little bit naughty. They’re like little stolen moments of slumber. When the rest of the world is toiling away at work, you’re crawling into your own personal heaven of quiet. So they HAVE to be in any place other than the bed. Because bed is for night sleeping only, and I think when you sleep under the covers, you are confusing your brain and body
I mean, I agree that if there’s a bed nap, it HAS to be on top of the covers
I also sometimes will lay perpendicular
Charli: If I had to “nap in bed” (that’s not a thing) I would certainly do it on top of the comforter.
Megan: adrienne, i fully agree. i have succumbed to bed naps, usually by accident when i am trying to read, and i always wake up in total confusion
Maddie: i understand that couch nap people believe a bed is a sacred place for sleeping, but my no under-the-comforter rule fixes this
Terri: my position is thus: both naps are good, but happen under different circumstances. couch naps, for me, are always accidental: i’m reading or watching tv, and then the sweet, sweet claws of slumber grasp me and i melt away
bed naps are intentional and i WILL AND DO flop myself onto bed for a quick midday power nap as needed
Tara: do y’all just have the world’s comfiest couches tho?
Megan: no i can sleep literally sitting up
i do not need a comfy couch
although i will say mine is pretty comfy, albeit a tiny bit short for a full lay-down
Adrienne: i have a nap CORNER
it’s an oversized lounge chair from the ’70s along with a heavy pouf
Charli: I too have a nap couch/corner, it’s divine — good sunlight and breeze for afternoon spring naps, a window, and it was an investment.
Megan: i don’t like to be in bed in not pajamas. address please
Maddie: i nap in bed in sweatpants
Terri: NAP CLOTHES?
(i know nap dresses are a thing, but!)
Megan: i am very grossed out by outside clothes in bed
i know that’s not the topic here but it’s how i feel
Adrienne: strong no outside clothes on bed
Charli: Nap clothes is a thing. I have nap leggings and outside leggings.
No bras for naps! Ever!
Terri: …no bras ever, period
Adrienne: bra ALWAYS comes off for naps
Megan: i will admit here that most of my clothes are now nap clothes
so i don’t change if i’m on the couch
Maddie: also you can only take a couch nap if other people aren’t around
unless you dont mind snoozing in front of people just walking by you i guess
Megan: depends on who the people are!
Charli: I can sleep around anyone. Self care. LOL
Adrienne: if other people are around, you have to create physical and mental barriers
for example, i will sometimes create a pillow fort
Adrienne: so you need a light and sound blocker first
which is where the head one comes in
but then you also need to feel surrounded and supported, which is where the top and leg pillows come in
Charli: I love that you have photos 💀
Megan: i do something not as extreme but similar, adrienne
if i really want to zone into my nap, i turn my face toward the back of the couch
and pull up a blanket real high
Terri: i actually sleep better with people around
quiets down the loud thoughts in my mind, AND feels sneaky, which makes sleep more appealing!
Megan: @Terri do you do earbuds or anything?
Terri: no, they are v distracting and annoying
Charli: I have a nap playlist too
Maddie: a nap playlist is bonkers. WHITE NOISE ONLY
GIVE ME LOUD FANS
Charli: Anita Baker’s voice always rocks me to sleep! And Nina Simone too
Adrienne: i would prefer gentle sounds of nature but a lot of times i have to do ear plugs
wow anyone who can fall asleep to music… sorry you’ve lost me on this one Charli
white noise or no noise only please
Megan: i love a nap playlist for a plane but for home naps i go au naturale, baby
my go-to sleep album for a decade has been plans by death cab for cutie
Maddie: my white noise machine sets the mood for nap time
Terri: nature sounds, podcasts, tv, etc. i can fall asleep to, but i’ve never tried music
Charli: I hear you, Adrienne! Nature’s playlist is a song too. The birds on the weekends outside my window understand the assignment!
Megan: i use white noise for my nighttime sleep! never daytime sleep
Adrienne: the best nap in the entire world is a friday afternoon nap while it’s thunderstorming
tell me i’m wrong
Charli: Rain naps are a must!!
Terri: rain naps are the BEST
Adrienne: all pets cuddled up
Megan: ok who here is a prolific fall-asleep-wherever-whenever-if-i-am-tired napper
Adrienne: i weirdly can’t sleep everywhere
i do need a lot of things to line up
Maddie: ok i know this isn’t part of the discourse right now, but falling asleep as a passenger in car? so easy, so good
Terri: perhaps the best nap, maddie
Megan: omg
ok that’s the real wild card here
i LOVE car naps
Adrienne: i can’t ever get comfortable!
y’all are wrong!
Tara: i always feel bad if I’m the only other person in the car tho
Megan: sometimes when i am sleepy in a car i just wish that the drive would be another hour or two
Terri: saaaame, you can even like feel when the end of the road trip is near, even as you’re napping
Adrienne: honestly i get very sleepy when i drive i can’t drive anywhere long distance when it’s my normal nap time i worry
Megan: i have fallen asleep on: cars, trains, planes, boats
Maddie: it reminds me of how some people put baby carriers on top of dryers to get them to sleep. bc of the rocking or whatever. that is a car nap for me
Megan: i fell asleep on a passenger ferry sitting in a dining chair once
i would nap on a dryer
Charli: Ranking Naps: 1. Beach/Vacation outside naps. 2. Couch naps. 3. car naps. 4. Midday naps, period.
Megan: ok so for couch and/or bed naps, what is your blanket situation
Maddie: you don’t need any of these fancy accessories for a bed nap, just saying
Adrienne: sofa throw at maximum!
but honestly i like a jacket or sweater thrown over me a tad
Megan: don’t you get chilled??
Maddie: a light blanket for a bed nap. sometimes no blanket if i’m feeling really sleepy
Charli: soft throw only!!
Megan: wow
ok
i am outnumbered here
i want to be enveloped in blanket
Terri: i do a little fetal position curl-up and self-heat
Charli: I like blanket + breeze when I can for my couch naps. The perfect combo!
Megan: i want the largest blanket possible
so it covers me all the way to my toes
and has enough extra to roll up next to my face
Tara: why are sofa throws so mis-sized
Adrienne: they are never long enough to pull up to my neck and reach my feet at the same time
Megan: this is the real scandal!!!!
but i also fetal roll so it’s usually okay
i end up using multiple to be able to cover my toesies
Adrienne: see that’s where pets and pillows can come into play
you can use them to strategically cover open spots
Adrienne: i also really, really do not want my partner to nap with me
this is my time
this is not cuddle time
pets only
Charli: Agreed! No new (nap) friends. It’ a solo activity.
Put some respect on my naps.
Maddie: i love when my dog sleeps in her bed beside mine because the sound of her snoring puts me to sleep
Charli: Pets are great warmth. They’re also nap magnets. They know when a good couch nap is happening and run to join!
Tara: what’s your nap length
Adrienne: i nap… for a long time
it’s longer than a normal human
Adrienne: okay but i’m not even asleep in 5 minutes
that’s not a nap you’re just closing your eyes
Megan: i’d say my ideal is an hourish
i preface this by saying i do not often nap on purpose
my ideal nap is accidental
Terri: i will wake up and WANT to nap longer, but i know that leads me down a path of destruction
i will wake up in another century if i do that
Charli: Weekend naps, minimum an hour. Weekday “disco naps” minimum 25 minutes lol
Maddie: wait…. 5 minutes??? is not??? a nap???
Terri: y’all ever do a coffee nap
i love those
Megan: it’s a “disco nap”
Adrienne: that’s what i’m saying that’s just closing your eyes
THESE AREN’T OFFICIALLY NAPS Y’ALL ARE OUT OF THE CLUB
Terri: i know!!! but like… i’ll set a timer for 20 mins and then jolt up 5 mins later!
Megan: wow terri
that’s a super power
Terri: haaaave i mentioned i have sleep issues?
lol
Megan: my trouble with naps is usually that i get sucked too deep in
Charli: I want to be your nap guide, Terri
Terri: i used to be a deeeep deep napper, but that just fucked up my nighttime sleep to an unbelievable degree
Tara: is there a nap length where it’s no longer a nap and is a sleep
or is sleep a place
Charli: Good question, Tara! I feel like if I slept more than 2 hours, I probably should have gone to bed…lol
Adrienne: an hour to hour and a half is an actual nap and the way it should be i feel strongly
Megan: @Charli i feel the same
Adrienne: you don’t actually get any sleep if it’s any shorter!?!?
i nap often and i sleep a ton at night YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL
Terri: but the point of napping isn’t sleep, it’s rest
Maddie: anywhere between 30 mins and 1.5 hours works for me
Megan: anything less than an hour is just “shutting my eyes”
i feel like it’s between the two!
rest is 10 minutes of staring at the ceiling
Tara: ok yes what is everyone hoping to get from naps?
Terri: just a little refreshment, for me
Megan: a nap is a baby snooze
a sleep is a full bedtime
Charli: If I sleep less than 25-30 minutes my heart races when I get up and I feel worse, not better
Maddie: when i nap, i hope to get up afterward and have my eyelids not be heavy anymore
Adrienne: i’m fully looking to fall asleep and wake up not feeling tired.
yes! my head feels heavy when i’m sleepy and need a nap
Megan: yeah i want to feel awake again
Charli: I’m hoping to rest my mind and body for a moment to recharge
Adrienne: i wake up and i have energy and i feel less stressed
Maddie: “yeah i want to feel awake again” evergreen tweet
Charli: Socks on or off for naps? I can’t do socks in bed or naps! (like bras)
Adrienne: i wear socks 24/7
Terri: never socks whilst sleeping
must keep the feet open to the elements
Tara: my feet are always cold lately so i’m team sock
Megan: mmm good question, i don’t like socks for bed sleeps but i can get into socks for couch sleeps
yeah i just want to be cozy
Maddie: i will wear socks if i choose no blanket tho
Megan: i’m completely baffled by no blanket
Adrienne: as a taurus i’m HORRIFIED by no coverage or extra coziness
Megan: whenever i do any length of sleep i get chilly
Terri: as an aries, you’re all wrong
Adrienne: but tauruses are the queens of comfort we do reign supreme about these things
Terri: guys i really want to nap now
i’m not even tired
but i want the sensation
Charli: Tara, if we take a nap after this do we get extra credit?
Megan: once, when we’d just moved in and didn’t have any furniture and i just wanted the tiniest bit of sleep
i laid down with my head on the dog bed
it was not terrible
Adrienne: i have… absolutely napped on a dog bed or two in my life
just like, you think you’re cuddling the dog… but then you fall asleep
Tara: ok closing arguments… have you learned anything new? do you want to share a favorite nap of all time (or recently)
Terri: i learned that my naps are too short for this crew
Adrienne: closing argument is that if they really don’t make you feel good, don’t do them. but if you’re not napping because you think you shouldn’t or something, let yourself nap!
Megan: i’m interested in trying a smaller nap but i cannot do five min, sorry terri
Adrienne: embrace napping! it’s not laziness it’s self care!
Megan: fully agree
nap the way you like to nap
Maddie: “LET YOURSELF NAP”
Megan: be the nap you want to see in the world
Adrienne: and i personally think that you SHOULD be quiet if someone around you is trying to nap that’s just nap courtesy
Terri: yeah no i refrain from naps because my insomnia gets so bad, but my doctor is like “sleep is sleep. please nap and don’t worry about it”
Charli: I learned that I might sleep even better without music and I’d like to share that if you can afternoon Couch Nap under a cross breeze on a weekend afternoon, it’s a game changer! This was fun everyone!
Maddie: i want to share a recent fave nap of mine. i was very sleepy from waking up super early, so i drank some cold brew to perk myself up. but it didn’t work so i somehow laid down for a 30 min nap and woke up feeling on top of the world
Terri: THAT’S A COFFEE NAP
i love them
Megan: oooh i need to try a coffee nap
that is my assignment for next week
Charli: I need coffee nap instructions!
Terri: drink something caffeinated, take a nap, and you’ll wake up like 15-30 mins later ready to take on the day
the caffeine kicks in and wakes you up and carries you through
Megan: my best naps? were when i woke up early with our puppy while he was potty training
and i would lay him on my chest and just snooze a little bit before real morning
it was perfect
Tara: everyone try a new nap and report back
Charli: Love that, Tara! Challenge accepted
Megan: i can’t wait to rock my nap world