Best Affordable Pillows For Side Sleepers

Kally Sleep Ultimate Side Sleeper Pillow: The Best Soft Pillow For Side Sleepers

Price: £35 | Buy now from Kally Sleep

This hollowfibre pillow from sleep specialists Kally manages to be soft and supportive at the same time, thanks to an innovative box design that’ll have other pillow makers wishing they’d thought of it first.

The Kally Side Sleeper pillow has that wonderful hotel-quality softness, but its walled shape is more supportive for your shoulder and neck than a standard soft pillow, making it comfy to fall asleep on and great for preventing joint pain. It has a really luxurious feel thanks to its bouncy hollowfibre filling, which is treated to protect against allergens and bacteria, and it doesn’t get clammy.

Despite being an unusual shape the pillow is a standard size, so you can adorn it with your favourite pillowcase. It comes with a removable cover made from breathable poly-cotton. Like the cover, the pillow itself can be machine washed at 40C, so you can potentially use it for years longer than a cheap standard pillow and the structured design helps ensure it doesn’t lose its supportive shape. Kally also offers a 14-night “sleep trial” on selected products, to customers ordering direct from its online store. During this time, you can return your pillow if you’re not happy with it.

Key features – Filling: Hollowfibre Cover: Cotton Size: 70cm x 40cm

Price: From £16 |

Key features Filling: Recycled polyester Eco Comfort Fibres Cover: 98% Polyester, 2% Elastine Size: 74 x 45cm

Price: £109 | Buy now from Tempur

Price: £37 |

How Do I Wash My Pillows

The general rule is that as long as it’s not memory foam, you can shove it in the washing machine with the rest of your bed linens. This can vary for feather and down pillows, some of which are professional clean only, so do make sure to check the washing instructions when you get a new set.

For memory foam pillows, you should have to clean them less often anyway, as the material is naturally resistant to allergens and bacteria growth. But if you do spill something on one, just draw a bath, add some detergent and submerge the pillow, squeezing the water through it. Air dry or use a fan to speed up the process. Never use a heater to dry memory foam as its a serious fire hazard.

Best Softie That Still Supports

Shop Now Purple Plush Pillow, Purple, $49

First impressions: Very puffy! You can zip up the extra gussets or keep it fluffy or unzip to make it softer. I slept with the zippers open because I found it was way too round and tall for me with the zippers closed.

Sleep: 9/10Even though it felt really soft , I woke up without any soreness .Propping up against headboard: 4/10 It sunk immediately and all the insides went against the curve of my back into my butt where I felt nothing.Scrolling: 3/10Its way too puffy even when unzipped.

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How To Choose A Pillow As A Side Sleeper

To best keep your head, neck, and back in neutral alignment, look for a medium-firm to extra-firm pillow that keeps your head around 3 to 4 inches above the mattress. Pillows that have wide side gussets are better at maintaining this height over time.

You may also want to look for a pillow that wont go flat over time.

If youre looking to avoid certain chemicals, like volatile organic compounds , look for brands whose pillows use CertiPUR-US or Greenguard Gold certified materials to narrow down your options.

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 & Needles 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 2-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.

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Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper

Dimensions:Fill:REASONS TO BUYREASONS TO AVOID

The Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper was only lost to our favorite by a smidge we love this pillow too. The long crescent shape rolled accommodatingly along with our lead tester, who tends to sleep with all the restfulness of a horizontal tornado. We really like the fill, which nicely fills the cover even when adjusted to be thinner. The sideband that helps keep its shape is also softer than the Honeydew pillow, which is a nice benefit.

Although the Sleep Artisan pillow is made from high-quality materials, these materials can only be spot washed, which is a bit of a disappointment. Some testers also wished this pillow was a touch firmer when thinned down, but even so, it is still one of our favorite pillows. We recommend this pillow if you tend to be restless, as this one will roll with you rather than rolling off the bed and can be folded and tucked nicely if you want a firmer or thicker spot in the middle of the night.

Dimensions:Fill:REASONS TO BUYREASONS TO AVOID

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ergo is definitely the firmest pillow we tested, and for those that really like supportive pillows, it’s the way to go. Tempur-Pedic has a history of making quality memory foam pillows and mattresses, and this pillow is no exception. Despite it being a solid block of memory foam, this pillow is plenty cool, whereas some memory foam pillows can be total heat sinks.

Belly Sleep The Belly Sleeper Pillow

HIGHLIGHTS:

Stomach sleepers should be careful about the pillow they choose because this sleeping position can be the most bothersome for the neck and spine. For this reason, its best to go for a low-profile pillow that helps keep the spine in alignment.

This Belly Sleep pillow is designed specifically for those who like resting on their stomach. The pillow is only 2.5 inches thick, so your neck and head shouldnt be raised at an uncomfortable angle. The pillow offers solid support while contouring to the shape of your head, which should help reduce snoring. The Belly Sleep pillow is made from polyurethane foam infused with temperature-regulating gel that prevents it from overheating.

What stands out?

• The Belly Sleeper Pillow has a cover made from bamboo and polyester. The material is naturally moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. Additionally, the cover is removable and washable, so its easy to keep fresh.

Best Cheap Pillow for Hot Sleepers

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What Pillow Materials Are Best For Side Sleepers

Based on our hands-on tests, weve noticed that the best pillow fill materials for side sleepers include memory foam, latex, buckwheat hulls, and other components that offer sufficient support without feeling too firm. However, the amount of comfort a pillow offers side sleepers depends on a few other factors. The most common pillow materials are outlined below.

A Sustainable Down Pillow With Three Firmness Options

Brooklinen

Fill: Down and feathers | Trial period: 365-day return policy | Adjustable: No

Soft but still firm enough, the Brooklinen down pillow is constructed of sustainably sourced Canadian down clusters and feathers, which provide the cushion side sleepers need. Brooklinen lets you choose between plush, mid-plush and firm options, but recommends that side sleepers opt for firm for that extra support and spine alignment.

What the reviews say: The overall comfy feel seems to do the trick for most reviewers. I haven’t had a down pillow in years, but I thought I would give this a try because I haven’t been able to find a pillow that works for me. I really like the pillow and am happy I bought it. I am getting a good night’s sleep and wake up without a neck ache, writes one newly pain-free sleeper.

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What Size Pillows Are Available

The most popular pillow sizes are standard, queen, and king. However, some manufacturers offer additional sizes to accommodate sleepers with different preferences. The following table lists facts and figures for the five most common pillow sizes. For the dimensions column, please note these are average measurements that will differ from brand to brand.

What Are Cheap Pillows Made Of

Cheap pillows can be made from various materials, but synthetic ones are often the most common Memory foam and down alternative are the most popular options for cheap pillows since all other materials are more expensive.

Olivera Janckin

Olivera is a content writer for Sleep Advisor and is enthusiastic about sleep. She firmly believes in the benefits of daytime naps on top of getting a full 8-hour sleep at night.

She started writing in 2016 and never looked back. What she appreciates the most is her flexible working hours and the ability to work with people worldwide.

In her free time, Olivera enjoys reading Spanish literature, taking pilates classes, and trying out new cocktails with friends.

Transparency Disclosure We may receive a referral fee for products purchased through the links on our site or other applicable pages. To learn more, please read our full disclosure page here. We also encourage you to read about how we may research and/or test Products here.

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Choose The Right Loft

According to Josh Tal of Josh Tal & Associates Sleep and Health Psychotherapists, people who sleep on their sides need to look for a pillow that provides support for the shoulder, neck and head, and allows for a neutral, supportive position. Because of this, Tal says, side sleepers usually prefer a pillow with more loft to cradle the head, paired with an indentation to comfort the shoulder and a potentially an elevated bump in the bottom of the pillow to support the neck.

Also, keep in mind that everyones neck is different, so the type of contour or density of fill that achieves this will vary from individual to individual. If youre smaller-framed, you may need a lower loft pillow if youre bigger, you may need a higher loft pillow to keep the neck aligned with the spine.

Molecule Infinity Essential Pillow

Hot sleepers often struggle to find the right position and a cool spot on the bed. For this reason, its valuable to have a cooling pillow that prevents you from overheating and sweating even during the hottest nights. The MOLECULE Infinity Essential Pillow is designed with Air-Engineering technology that allows it to stay cool at all times, making this a great pick for hot sleepers.

The pillow also features an antimicrobial Microban cover that promotes additional cooling. The fill is made from a blend of memory and conventional foam to bring ample support in most sleeping positions, though some stomach sleepers may find it too tall.

Whats worth mentioning?

• The antimicrobial Microban cover helps the pillow stay cool and comes with moisture-wicking properties.
• The foams in this pillow are CertiPUR-US® certified, which tells you theyre free of chemicals, toxins, and harmful substances.MOLECULE offers free shipping and a 30-night sleep trial with the purchase of this pillow.

Best Cheap Mini Pillow

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What Pillow Firmness Is Best For Side Sleepers

Side sleepers usually find medium pillows the most comfortable because they give the head some cushion without causing the neck to fall out of alignment. Too-firm pillows can lead to morning headaches, while too-soft pillows can lead to neck pains. Some pillows come with sleep trials or return policies, giving side sleepers time to gauge if the feel is right for them.

More Pillows For Side Sleepers To Consider

RestHavenShreddedMemoryFoamPillows: We were impressed with how cool these pillows remained during testing, especially considering you get two for such a low price. They make a great budget alternative to more expensive shredded memory foam pillows, but they were a bit too small to fill out our standard pillowcases.

AvocadoGreen Pillow: Made from 100 percent organic materials, this shredded latex pillow is both firm and soft at the same time. The zipper was a bit finicky, but this was the only pillow we tested that didn’t rise in temperature at all after 15 minutes of use.

Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow: This responsive, solid memory foam pillow is comparable to our best cooling pick in terms of structure and support. It features cooling gel beads to trap and pull away heat, but it’s worth mentioning that our tester didn’t notice a significant difference in temperature while laying on it.

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Why Its Good For Back Sleepers

• The ergonomic memory foam keeps the neck supported without causing any craning.
• It has a firm feel with slow-sinking memory foam.
• It comes in three different sizes, so you can pick the right one for you.

Price: $109$149 with a 5-year warranty.

Check out our full review of the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow for more information!

The TEMPUR-Neck is a molded memory foam pillow with an ergonomic shape designed to follow the natural curvature of the body.

What Pillow Types Are Best For Side Sleepers With Neck Pain

Side sleepers with neck pain usually require a conforming pillow for pressure relief. Medium to firm feels are helpful to ensure the head and neck dont move into an irritating position.

Some side sleepers might want to try an orthopedic, cervical pillow with a dip for the head and raised sides for neck support. Such contour pillows can minimize neck strain.

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Why Trust The Spruce

This article was written by Cristina Sanza, a lifestyle writer specializing in home products and organization hacks. She reviews the latest and greatest home products for The Spruce. Her work has been featured on Bustle, Ranker, Inside The Magic, and Upright Citizens Brigade. For this list, she used insights from product testers, who slept on each pillow for weeks, evaluating the durability, softness, and comfort of each.

For additional background on pillows, we spoke to Dr. Samantha March-Howard, doctor of chiropractic at 100% Chiropractic office in Dunwoody, Georgia, as well as Robert Hayden, DC, chiropractor and spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association. Additional reporting was done by Ashley Abramson, a writer whose work has appeared in MyDomaine, the New York Times, Washington Post, Allure, InStyle, and more.

Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow

Price: $$

Customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars

If youre looking for a green pillow thats specifically made for side sleepers, you may enjoy the Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow. It has an ergonomic design that protects the neck and shoulder from cramping, plus its handcrafted in the United States with organic cotton and hemp. The fill is made from organic latex and poly silk.

Users like this pillows complete lack of chemical smell. They also like how easy it is to adjust the amount of fill in the pillow to a preferred height.

Unlike other pillows with a curved side, this pillow fits comfortably into a standard pillowcase.

The manufacturer provides a 3-year warranty.

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Why Its Good For Side Sleepers

• The foam contours nicely to the head and neck, promoting spinal alignment.
• Its adjustable, so sleepers can choose the right comfort level for them.
• Its polyester fiber provides support for sleepers.

Price: $65$85 with a 365-night trial.

Our full review for the Brooklinen Marlow pillow is coming soon!

With a classic memory foam feel, this latest pillow from Brooklinen should give side sleepers plenty of contouring and pressure relief.

Best Cooling Pillow For Side Sleepers: Zoma Pillow

The Zoma Pillow has a ventilated fabric cover and a shredded foam fill to maximize airflow. Side sleepers in hot climates or naturally high body temperatures might benefit from the cooling design of the Zoma Pillow. Plus, the Zoma Pillow is 6-inches thick, perfect for side sleepers who want the support of a high-loft pillow.

The pillows fill is sag-resistant MicroCushions that provides customizable comfort. Side sleepers can fluff or flatten the pillow as they please, while the MicroCushions respond to the slightest change in movement to provide adaptable support. The MicroCushions fill is also certified by CertiPUR-US®, an independent organization.

A study of over 100 side sleepers showed that the pillow subjects found most comfortable, plus their own pillow, had the best-perceived sleep quality, says Dr. Religioso. Zoma is perfect for those looking for optimal comfort as it is adjustable.

Zoma also sells a body pillow, which can be a helpful accessory for side sleepers. Some side sleepers find it comforting to hold a body pillow as they drift off, while others like to slip the body pillow between their legs or use it for back support.

The Zoma Pillow ships free and comes with the protection of a 10-year warranty.

Zoma Pillow

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What Makes A Good Side

To stay comfortably aligned, most side-sleepers should look for a pillow that has 4 to 6 inches of loft, or height, and provides the right combination of softness and firmness . People who sleep on their side need more support than those who favor any other sleep position because, on their side, they have a larger gap between their head and the mattress. As a result, if you have broad shoulders, you need a loftier pillow. The goal of any pillow should be to keep your head and neck in roughly the same position as they are when youre standing straight.

The goal of any pillow should be to keep your head and neck in roughly the same position as they are when youre standing straight.

Terry Cralle, a registered nurse and clinical sleep educator, told us that keeping your body correctly positioned at night is crucial to your physical health and the quality of your sleep. Your sleeping posture is just as important as your waking posture, she said. Your head will be angled downward if the pillow is too thin and angled upward if too thick. Aim for neutral, to keep the head, neck, and spine in alignment. And your neck isnt the only part of your body that needs support. Cralle also told us, If you are a side sleeper, a thinner pillow placed between your knees can help make you more comfortable and help keep your spine in a neutral position. We also recommend using a body pillow to get full-length support while youre on your side.