The 11 Best Pillows for Side Sleepers, All Tested by Editors (Who Swear These Help Them Wake Up Without Neck Pain)

The true test of a great pillow is the one you reach for after testing has completed, when you're surrounded by options. This humble pillow became PureWow freelancer Melissa Lee's go-to: "At a glance, it seems pretty ordinary, but it’s the perfect mesh between support and comfort thanks to the down clusters and feather filling," adding that it's offered in three firmnesses, and she tested the mid-plush option.

It’s been dubbed by Brooklinen as their best-selling pillow, since the mid-plush is its most versatile option. It contains a dual-core structure with an extra-supportive inner layer of feathers, surrounded by an additional layer of down clusters. This gives it support without feeling too stiff, so your ear isn't aching halfway through the night.

Purple's Harmony pillow will ruin you. As in, you thought $10 pillows from Target were fine...until you spent one night on this, and now, you're convinced you cannot sleep as well on anything else. That's what happened to our VP of editorial's husband, Nate, who promptly stole this pillow after a test nearly three years ago and has been sleeping on it ever since.

"We travel everywhere with it—even if it means checking a bag," Candace Davison, VP of editorial, says. "He's that obsessed." Why, exactly? The pillow is constructed with temperature-neutral ventilated latex and a moisture-wicking mesh cover, both of which work together to provide a super-breathable exterior. It’s available in three heights (5.5-inches, 6.5-inches and 7.5-inches), and Purple recommends the latter two for side sleepers.

The price makes it hard to justify as our overall pick, but it's a close second, especially since the hex grid provides squishy softness for your skull while the latex core keeps the pillow from flattening out overnight—or after years of use.

In the realm of side sleeper pillows, there's a whole category of curved ones, designed to fit around your shoulder while keeping your head and neck aligned. (Anyone who's woken up with an achy neck or realized their arm has fallen asleep from their shoulder down knows how it feels when you accidentally sleep too far up on the pillow.) But are they actually better?

This style tends to be best for hardcore side sleepers who don't shift to their stomachs or backs often throughout the night. And, out of the four we've tested, Eli & Elm tied with Sleep Number for top marks. Eli & Elm, in particular, earned rave reviews from hot sleepers, who felt its cotton-polyester-spandex exterior helped keep them cool throughout the night.

In terms of comfort, the latex and polyester filling is removable, so you can adjust the height and firmness to your liking—another major bonus.

If you prefer the cradling feeling of a firm pillow—as opposed to the sink-into-it feeling of something very soft—check out the Sleep Number ComfortFit. Its blend of memory foam and down alternative fibers make this a hearty pillow that doesn't flatten a bit over time, and overall, it felt a bit firmer than the other curved pillows we tested (but not hard or stiff, thankfully). Our tester felt it had just the right height for her neck and head, helping her resist the urge to sleep with her arm under the pillow, as she used to.

The awesome thing about this pillow is that you can choose which loft you’d like (low or high), making it a great option for side sleepers. The taller height allows for side sleepers to enjoy a comfortable cradling sensation around the neck and head, while the shoulders are elevated.

The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow is also made from natural materials, like hypoallergenic latex foam that conforms to the shape of your head. The exterior cotton is even organic, meanwhile, that latex interior promotes greater airflow.

While more expensive than some of the others on the list (the standard size is $160), the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow is medium-density. Its 3.5-inch gusset was created to take the strain off of the neck and shoulders, making it a good option for side sleepers.

"When I tested this pillow out, I found it to be super soft. It contains 750-fill power European down, providing a cushy level of comfort," Lee says. "Side sleepers who like to prioritize plushiness over support will definitely enjoy catching zzz’s on this pillow."

Several editors swear by Brooklinen's Marlow pillow—and they all confess they're semi-side sleepers. Their love of it makes sense: The pillow features two zippers along the side, allowing you to easily adjust its firmness levels to your taste. If you flip onto your back, you can unzip one side. If you switch to your stomach, unzip both, for the lowest loft and the softest feel. It's as easy as flipping your pillow to the cool side.

"I can’t do heavy memory foam or thin feathery numbers; I need a comfortable in-between. Marlow is just that, a solid middle ground between strength and comfort," says PureWow Assistant Editor Delia Curtis. "Cushiony enough to lull me to sleep and hard enough where I don’t wake up with aches in my neck. It’s also super easy to re-fluff so I’m never fully parallel to the bed."

Priced at just $50 for a two-pack, the Serta Perfect Sleeper is, in the words of Davison, the “best value I’ve found.” After stocking more than half a dozen types of pillows—from down alternative to memory foam—at the Airbnb she manages, she finds that time and time again, her guests prefer these pillows over anything else. That's largely due to the cushy, supportive feel. They have a decent height, but they're not so plush that if you tend to sleep with your arm under your head, you won't wake up with a crick in your neck.

If you have allergies or asthma, this is the ideal pillow for you, too. It contains an allergen protector that will keep you feeling comfortable through naps and lengthy sleeps.

When fashion editor Abby Hepworth tested out FluffCo pillows, she was absolutely obsessed with their quality and value. She particularly loved the FluffCo Down Alternative Pillow in the soft option (you can nab it in ‘firm’ or ‘soft,’ but after trying both, she felt that the latter comfortably fit under her head). Described as containing a “little less fluff material to give the pillow more squish,” our tester also noted that it stayed cool and supportive from the moment she got into bed.

Ah, Ostrichpillow: You excel at making atypically shaped pillows...that earn a cult following for their ergonomic design. Memory foam pillows can often be too stiff, but this bean-like design feels contoured to your head and neck. Plus, you can rotate it 90 degrees if you suddenly shift to your back or stomach, and boom! It's now optimized to align your neck and spine once again.

"It has enough support that I don't feel like my neck is straining at all, but is still comfy if I flop onto my back," says PureWow Assistant Editor Natalie LaBarbera, who admits that previously, she'd used much cheaper pillows that'd cause her neck to ache. "The ergonomic design is a huge plus, and I love that it comes with a cover you can wash or you can easily put another pillowcase on top of it."

Oh, so you want the feel of a resort pillow, even though you're headed to your in-laws for the weekend? Or going camping? This is the pillow for you. And for Star Wars side sleepers, since it's part of the brand's Star Wars Home series (something you wouldn't notice unless you looked closely at the Imperial and Republic logos imprinted on the pillow itself).

This medium-firm pillow is plush, thanks to its 100 percent polyester fiber fill, putting it on the softer, cuddlier end of the cushy-to-cradling spectrum. As a result, you'll sink into it a bit, but not too much. It comes with a small, cylindrical bag that you can roll the pillow in, making it easy to transport (hence our pick for best to travel with). Don't leave home without it.