Woman sleeping on her side

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A pillow can make or break a good night’s sleep. Without the right support while you snooze, you’re at risk of myriad aches and pains in your head, neck, shoulders, and back. But the right pillow will depend on your preferred sleeping position.

If you’re a side sleeper, you may need a thicker, firmer pillow to ensure proper alignment while you sleep. But if you’re a back sleeper, you’ll likely do well with a medium-loft pillow to keep your neck and shoulders from tilting up or down.

If you find yourself moving between sleeping positions in the night, you need a pillow that accommodates both. These pillows are up for the job.

We looked for pillows that offered the right level of support for back and side sleeping. Here is what else we considered.

  • Construction quality and material.
  • It is firm.
  • height
  • There are trials and warranties.
  • The cleaning is easy.
  • Customer reviews.

Pricing guide

There are a range of fill options for pillows, with standard, queen, and king sizes available. Unless otherwise stated, the pillows on our list are priced for a standard size pillow.

  • $ = under $90
  • $$ = $90–$130
  • $$$ = over $130

Best pillow for side sleepers with neck pain

The Saatva Pillow

Price: $$$ (queen)

The Saatva Pillow is made of a down-like microdenier fiber and shredded latex. The combination of spine and neck support will eliminate pain and pressure.

Reviewers say the pillow is soft and supportive, but not too soft.

Saatva has a 45 day trial, with free shipping and returns, and its pillows are only available in queen and king sizes.

Shop The Saatva Pillow online.

Best pillow for back sleepers with neck pain

The Purple Harmony Pillow

Price: $$$

The pillow instantly adjusts to your head and shoulders to eliminate pressure and pain. It comes in two sizes.

The Harmony has a 5-star rating and comes with a 1-year warranty and a 100 night trial.

The core of the pillow cover is spot clean, which makes it impossible to throw in the washing machine.

Buy The Purple Harmony Pillow online.

Watch our video review of the Purple Harmony Pillow

Best memory foam pillow for back sleepers

Nectar Resident Pillow

Price: $

The pillow is made with a two-in-one design. The outer shell is overstuffed for comfort and you can remove some of the fill to find the right feel. The inner shell is made of foam.

The Resident pillow works well for both back and side sleeping areas.

There are close to 300 reviews. People praise the support and feel.

Buy the Nectar Resident Pillow online.

Best memory foam pillow for side sleepers

Casper Foam Pillow

Price: $

The foam pillow by Casper has three layers of low and high density foam that are supportive and cooling. The foam is designed to support the head and neck, no matter where you are.

The side sleepers said that the pillow they use is supportive and soft.

Try it at home for a while. Free shipping and returns are offered by Casper.

Buy the Casper Foam Pillow online.

Best cooling pillow for side sleepers

Leesa Hybrid Pillow

Price: $$$

The Leesa hybrid pillow is made with a cooling gel layer and microfiber to keep you cool. It is both changeable and double-sided. The quilted outer layer and cooling gel layer have aremovable insert that lets you personalize support so you sleep comfortably on your side and back.

Leesa has a 30-day trial and 3-year limited warranty.

Buy the Leesa Hybrid Pillow online.

Best down alternative pillow for side sleepers

Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set

Price: $$

Sensitive to down, but still prefer its light support over the weightiness of foam? Tuft & Needle’s down alternative pillow is a hypoallergenic synthetic that works well for both side and back sleepers. These pillows are sold in sets of two and can be machine washed.

The company offers a warranty and a sleep trial.

Shop the Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set online.

Best adjustable pillow for back and side sleepers

Avocado Green Pillow

Price: $$

This adjustable pillow from Avocado is filled with Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) organic certified latex and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) organic certified kapok fiber inside an organic jersey cotton liner. The whole thing is covered with a machine-washable organic quilted cotton cover.

The pillow has an extra bag of fill so you can adjust its volume to fit your preferred sleeping position and prolong its life span.

A 100 night trial, free shipping, and a 1-year warranty are offered by Avocado.

Buy the Avocado Green Pillow online.

Best overall pillow for back sleepers

Parachute Down Pillow

Price: $$$

The European down is used in the Parachute Down Pillow.

You can choose from three densities, including soft, medium, and firm. The medium-density pillow has a moderate amount of fluff to keep your spine properly aligned.

The pillow is comfortable in both positions and has support in both positions.

The pillow has a 3-year warranty but no trial period. It can be washed or dry cleaned.

Buy the Parachute Down Pillow online.

Best overall pillow for side sleepers

Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow

Price: $$$

The pillow that Parachute made our list with was specifically designed for side sleeping. It is a medium density option, which means it will be comfortable if you move from your side to your back.

The pillow is made with European down that makes it soft and luxurious, and a 3.5 inch gusset that makes it easier to relieve pressure on the neck and shoulders.

Reviewers credit the pillow with eliminating neck pain from both back and side sleeping positions. It comes with a 3-year warranty and can be dry cleaned or machine washed. Again, there’s no option for a trial.

Buy the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow online.

Best down alternative pillow for back sleepers

Boll and Branch Down Alternative Pillow

Price: $

The pillow is made with a premium synthetic fiber that mimics the lightweight loft of down. The medium density option is supportive for both back and side sleeping areas. Reviewers praise the pillow for its support and comfort.

The 30-night trial is free and includes free shipping and returns.

Buy the Boll and Branch Down Alternative Pillow online.

Best cooling pillow for back sleepers

Coop Home Goods Eden

Price: $$ (queen)

The case is made from sustainable bamboo and has a wide gusset. It is possible to find the right level of support for your preferred sleeping positions. Every pillow has a bag of filler and a 5-year warranty.

It has been well-reviewed and has over 2,000 customers saying it is soft and supportive.

Shop Coop Home Goods Eden online.

Still searching for the right sleep products?

Let us help. Shop our top picks for pillows by condition or sleep position to get the sound sleep you deserve.

Here are the things to consider when shopping for the best pillows for back and side sleeping.

Loft

Loft is a description of a pillow’s height and is directly related to the type of fill. Back and side sleepers should look for medium to high loft to ensure they have enough cushioning. If you sleep on your side, a 2015 study suggests that a pillow height of 10 centimeters, or around 4 inches, may be the comfiest for you.

The fill material plays a role in the loft. A pillow with a loft can be a good option if you tend to move between sleeping areas.

Firmness

This is largely a personal preference, but back and side sleepers should look for medium It is firm. to ensure the right amount of contouring and support.

Shape

“You need to fluff pillow fill frequently to maintain their shape. If you don’t want to deal with that kind of maintenance, pillows made with foam or latex are a good option.”

Materials

The pillow cover and type of fill should be of high quality. It is a sign of more longevity and durability when you pay more for better materials.

Customer reviews

While a company description will sound great, it is important to take time to read reviews for a sense of what customers think about a particular pillow.

The most common size of pillows are standard and king. A standard pillow is 20 inches by 26 inches, while a king is 20 inches by 36 inches. There are three pillow sizes: queen, travel and child.

pillows have an important job and are often used for aesthetic reasons in the bedroom. A standard-sized pillow that has the right density is sufficient for most people.

If you’re a combination sleeper, moving from your back to side during the night, a king pillow can offer more room to accommodate you. Just remember to pick a pillow with the right It is firm. and support if you’ll actually be using it to sleep and not just as a decoration.

“A pillow is just one part of a good night’s sleep.”

The right mattress will go a long way in maintaining a comfortable sleep environment if you switch from your back to your side during the night. And if you’re not in the market for a new mattress, a mattress topper can be a good alternative.

Adding a small pillow behind your knees while you are on your back and between your knees when on your side is a good idea. This will help keep your hip joints from collapsing.

Try to keep your arms and hands below your face and neck when on your side.

People who sleep on their back or side need a pillow that can support their neck and shoulders. A medium-density pillow is a good choice for comfort.

If you are shopping online, it is a good idea to get a pillow with an in- home trial so you can find what works for you.

Jessica Timmons has been working as a freelance writer since 2007, covering everything from pregnancy and parenting to cannabis, chiropractic, stand-up paddling, fitness, martial arts, home decor, and much more. Her work has appeared in mindbodygreen, Pregnancy & Newborn, Modern Parents Messy Kids, and Coffee + Crumbs. See what she’s up to now at jessicatimmons.com.