Sure, you can use any regular pillow to sleep any way you want: They're flexible for a reason. But if you're here, it's because you're looking for the best sleep that money can offer you, likely because you had some uncomfortable nights. Knowing what type of pillow best suits your sleep habits can have great benefits for your health and might even help you stop snoring.
As a side sleeper, you need a pillow with a higher loft than normal to support your head and neck and keep your spine aligned. Here are the best ones you can get.
Best side pillow overall
Moldability in pillows is key for side sleepers. Foam is the best material to have inside your pillow to keep it moldable. The great thing about moldable pillows is that they work for side sleepers as well as they do for back sleepers. The best pillow to do this is the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow because of its firm yet adjustable support. The shredded foam material inside gives it a comfortable feel without the smell of foam. The pillowcase is soft and cool to the touch, and the shredded foam has its own washable inner pouch making it easy to wash.
Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow: $95.20 (originally $119)
Best side pillow for hot sleepers
People who suffer from night sweats can also get side pillows tailored for them. The Layla Kpop is an adjustable pillow made from naturally cooling materials. It has a copper-infused polyester cover, and it's filled with shredded memory foam made from kapok, a natural tree fiber. The copper-infused cover drives heat away from your head. The adjustable fill can get messy, but it'll help you find your right firmness. When it is fully stuffed, you get a very high loft of seven inches, which is a great height for most side sleepers.
Layla Kpop: $109
Best latex pillow for side sleepers
If you suffer from allergies, a latex pillow could help you get a better night's rest. Latex pillows are cool, can give you good support, are durable, and, of course, are hypoallergenic. The Saatva Latex Pillow gives you all the benefits of a latex pillow, and it is also adjustable. The core of the pillow is made of Talalay latex covered by a layer of down alternative fiber (synthetic fiber made to replace duck plumage), and all of that is covered by an organic cotton cover. The pillow's loft comes in standard and high loft heights, but side sleepers should choose the high loft. The high loft comes ready for average and heavyweight side sleepers who need a high loft to sleep comfortably. Smaller side sleepers can remove the latex core if they feel they need to.
Saatva Latex Pillow: $165
Best side pillow for side sleepers who get headaches
If you're a side sleeper who gets headaches regularly (and you think they're caused by your pillow), then consider the Pillow Cube (which is no longer made as a block shape; now it's a rectangle). The Pillow Cube is made of a memory foam block covered in gel-infused polyester shell. You can get the standard five-inch loft or the seven-inch loft for those who are 6'4" or taller. The pillow has a flat surface made to fit and support all the space between your shoulder to your head. If you get the right size, it should align your neck and spine to give you a sense of relief.
Pillow Cube starts at $69.99
Best side pillow who switch to their back sometimes
Most people do change positions while they sleep. If this sounds like you, and you consider yourself a combination sleeper, the Tuft & Needle might be a good option for you. This squishy foam pillow has a five-inch loft designed to give you good support for side and back sleeping. It's made with Tuft & Needle's poly-foam infused with cooling gel and graphite that, they claim, helps keep your head cool.
Tuft & Needle: $80 (originally $100)
Best body pillow for side sleepers
I am a huge fan of body pillows and have been using one ever since I first started. If you're a side sleeper and have never slept with one, you're missing out. The truth is you need more than your neck to be supported to have a great sleep. Shoulders, legs, and back can also make a big difference in your sleep when properly supported. One of the best body pillows anyone can get are pregnancy pillows—you don't need to be pregnant to use one. The Pharmedoc Pregnancy U-Shape Full Body Pillow is a great body pillow for most people; it supports all of your essential body parts like your legs, back, and shoulders. If you've never tried one, you're missing out.
Pharmedoc Pregnancy U-Shape Full Body Pillow $44.95 (originally $64.99)