The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers of 2024, Tested by Experts

Side sleepers should choose a thick, firm pillow that will “keep their ears in line with their shoulders” to prevent their neck from extending in either direction when sleeping on their sides, according to Dr. Jaspal R. Singh M.D., co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Spine Care at Weill Cornell Medicine. The best pillow will keep your head and neck aligned while you are lying down.

✔ ️ fill : Any fill is work from down to foam can work for side sleeper as long as the pillow is thick enough to support your neck . solid foam or latex option offer the most uniform support , while hybrid , down and down alternative options is offer offer more flexibility . note that down or down alternative fill may require routine fluffing to maintain their height .

✔️ Loft: This refers to the pillow’s height. Look for a pillow that’s high enough to maintain a neutral alignment. Remember: The ideal loft can vary based on your height and body. If you’re unsure what loft you need, an adjustable pillow allows you to find a height that’s just right.

• A quick test you can do at home is to lie on your side and place books under your head. Keep adding or removing books until you feel you’re properly aligned. Then measure the height of the book stack to get a rough idea of how thick your pillow should be. Just remember that some pillows may sink in a little more than others, so don’t concentrate too much on the exact height.

✔️ Sleeping style: If you are a restless sleeper, look for options with plusher fill that can easily change shape as you move. If you stay put on your side all night, a solid memory foam pillow can support your head in one position to help keep you asleep.

✔ ️ care : Do n’t forget to check the care instruction . In our evaluation , some pillow could not be wash at all , while even more pillow only have machine – washable cover . If you are sensitive to allergen , look for an entirely machine – washable pillow , and keep in mind that memory foam is usually not machine – washable .

✔ ️ Return policy : With so many different pillow on the market , make sure to look at the return policy to ensure you can return or exchange the pillow if it does n’t work for you .