Best Bed Pillows for Side Sleepers, and for Neck Pain

Lying on your side leaves a gap the width of your shoulder between your ear and the mattress. The right pillow fills it, and is still filling it at four in the morning.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated October 5, 20265 picks

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Our top picks

5 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallCoop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size
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2
The entry point, gussetedPacific Coast Goose Feather and Down Pillows, Queen Size Set of 2, Gusseted Pillows
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3
Adjustable, in latexAvocado Organic Green Pillow, Standard
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4
The contoured oneTempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow, Medium Profile, White
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5
High loft, high endSaatva Latex Pillow, Hypoallergenic Pillow with Shredded Latex Core
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Side sleepers ask the most of a pillow. Your head sits a shoulder's width above the mattress, and the pillow has to hold it there so the neck runs roughly level with the rest of the spine. Too low and the head tips down toward the mattress. Too high and it bends up. Either way, the neck spends the night at an angle.

Three things decide whether a pillow can do this. Loft, its height, which for most side sleepers means medium to high. Firmness, so that height survives the weight of a head. And structure: a gusset, the strip of fabric that gives a pillow straight sides, or an adjustable fill, so the pillow stays tall at the edges rather than doming in the middle and collapsing everywhere else.

The five below cover the ways to get there: a gusseted feather and down pillow, two adjustable fills, a contoured foam pillow and a high-loft latex one. Sleep on any new pillow for a couple of weeks before judging it, and if it is adjustable, change it gradually.

How we chose

Loft that holds. Enough height for a side sleeper's shoulder, with fill that stays up through the night rather than flattening.
Firmness. Medium firm to firm, so the head stays level instead of sinking through.
Structure or adjustability. A gusset or contoured shape that keeps the edges tall, or a zip-open fill you can set to your own height.
Care. A removable or washable cover, and clear instructions for the fill.
Sold properly. Every pick is sold on Amazon by Amazon.com or by the brand itself.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 5 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size

Our take. Shredded memory foam you can add or remove until the height is right, which is the whole problem for side sleepers.

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Keeps for: Several years; add fill as it compresses
Size: Queen, 19 x 29 in
Fill: Cross-cut memory foam and microfiber, medium firm
Adjustable: Zippered, extra half pound of fill included
Cover: Lulltra (polyester and viscose), machine washable
Certifications: CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold

Coop's Original is a zippered pillow filled with a blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber, medium firm, with an extra half pound of fill in the box. Out of the box it is full; a side sleeper with broad shoulders may keep it that way, and a narrower one takes some out. That is the fastest route to the right loft without buying three pillows.

The queen measures 19 by 29 inches. The fill is certified CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold, and the outer cover, in Coop's Lulltra fabric of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose, comes off for the machine.

Skip it if you dislike the feel of foam. It is springy and dense rather than soft, and it can feel firmer in a cold room, as Coop itself notes.

The catch. Some owners report a foam smell for the first days, and the fill needs a shake now and then to stay even.

The entry point, gussetedNo. 2

Pacific Coast Goose Feather and Down Pillows, Queen Size Set of 2, Gusseted Pillows

Our take. Two firm, gusseted feather and down pillows for the price of one good foam one, built for side and back sleepers.

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Keeps for: A few years; feathers keep their structure longer than synthetic fill
Size: Queen, set of 2
Fill: Goose feather and down
Gusset: 2 in
Cover: 100% organic cotton, double feather-proof layer
Certification: Responsible Down Standard

Pacific Coast describes itself as the leading supplier of down pillows to American hotels, and this pair is its firm, gusseted version for side and back sleepers. A 2 inch gusset around the edge gives the pillow straight sides, so the height carries out to the edge where your neck actually rests instead of tapering away.

The fill is goose feather and down certified to the Responsible Down Standard, inside a 100% organic cotton cover with a double feather-proof layer. Feathers give the support; down softens the surface. The result is firm but moldable, and you can punch it into shape at night, which a solid foam pillow will not let you do.

Skip it if you are allergic to feathers or want to adjust the height. Feather pillows also need a daily plump, since the fill shifts toward the sides.

The catch. Feathers can poke through over time, and the height cannot be changed.

Adjustable, in latexNo. 3

Avocado Organic Green Pillow, Standard

Our take. Organic latex and kapok behind a zipper, for side sleepers who want adjustable height without foam.

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Made in: USA (California)
Keeps for: Longer than synthetic fill; latex keeps its spring
Size: Standard
Fill: Shredded organic Dunlop latex and kapok
Adjustable: Zippered, extra fill pack included
Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GREENGUARD Gold
Care: Cover machine wash cold; fill not washable

Avocado fills this pillow with shredded GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex and organic kapok fiber, inside an organic cotton cover with a zipper. It is the same idea as the Coop, in natural materials: take fill out or add the extra pack until your head sits level.

Latex is springier than memory foam. It pushes back rather than sinking, which holds a side sleeper's height well, and it recovers its shape quickly when you turn over. Avocado rates it medium firm.

Only the cover can be washed; the fill cannot. Skip it if you want a soft, sinking pillow, or if anyone in the house has a latex allergy.

The catch. Heavy for its size, and the fill cannot be washed.

The contoured oneNo. 4

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow, Medium Profile, White

Our take. A shaped, extra-firm foam pillow that holds the neck in one position all night, for sleepers who want no adjusting at all.

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Made in: Designed and assembled in the USA
Keeps for: Years; the maker gives a 5-year limited warranty
Size: Medium profile, 20 x 12.5 x 4 in
Fill: Molded TEMPUR material, extra firm
Cover: Polyester knit, removable, machine washable
Certification: CertiPUR-US
Warranty: 5-year limited

The TEMPUR-Ergo is a single piece of molded TEMPUR material with a raised edge for the neck and a lower hollow for the head. Tempur designs it for side and back sleepers and rates it extra firm. It does not flatten through the night, which is the main complaint about feather and fiber pillows.

Size it by your shoulders. The medium profile is 20 by 12.5 by 4 inches. Tempur also sells a large profile, and a side sleeper with broad shoulders may need the large. The cover is a removable, machine-washable polyester knit.

Skip it if you change position often. A contoured pillow works best for someone who falls asleep on their side and stays there; for a stomach sleeper it is too firm and too high.

The catch. Smaller than a standard pillow, so it looks odd in a sham, and the shape takes a few nights to get used to.

High loft, high endNo. 5

Saatva Latex Pillow, Hypoallergenic Pillow with Shredded Latex Core

Our take. A shredded latex core wrapped in a soft fiber layer, sold in a high loft for side sleepers.

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Keeps for: Years; latex outlasts synthetic fill
Loft: High Loft about 6 to 7 in; Slim Loft about 4 in
Core: Shredded natural latex
Outer layer: Microdenier fiber
Cover: Organic cotton, Fair Trade Certified, gusseted, machine washable
Seller: The Saatva Co.

Saatva builds this pillow in two parts: a core of shredded natural latex for support, surrounded by a layer of down-like microdenier fiber for a softer surface, all inside a Fair Trade Certified organic cotton cover with gusseted sides. It is a pillow with a firm center and a soft outside.

It comes in two lofts. The Slim Loft, about 4 inches, is for back and stomach sleepers; the High Loft, about 6 to 7 inches, is the one for side sleepers. Choose the High Loft. The Sleep Foundation names it its best overall pillow for side sleepers. The cover is machine washable.

Skip it if you want to fine-tune the height. It is not a zip-open pillow like the Coop or Avocado, and at this price a wrong guess on loft is expensive.

The catch. The most expensive pillow here, and the right loft has to be chosen before you buy.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size	Best overall	Not stated	Several years; add fill as it compresses	Check priceAmazon
Pacific Coast Goose Feather and Down Pillows, Queen Size Set of 2, Gusseted Pillows	The entry point, gusseted	Not stated	A few years; feathers keep their structure longer than synthetic fill	Check priceAmazon
Avocado Organic Green Pillow, Standard	Adjustable, in latex	USA (California)	Longer than synthetic fill; latex keeps its spring	Check priceAmazon
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow, Medium Profile, White	The contoured one	Designed and assembled in the USA	Years; the maker gives a 5-year limited warranty	Check priceAmazon
Saatva Latex Pillow, Hypoallergenic Pillow with Shredded Latex Core	High loft, high end	Not stated	Years; latex outlasts synthetic fill	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

Loft, firmness and your shoulders

The broader your shoulders, the higher the pillow. A rough check: lie on your side on the pillow and have someone look at you from behind. Your neck should run straight on from your back, not bend up toward the ceiling or down toward the mattress.

Your mattress matters too. A soft mattress lets the shoulder sink, which shortens the gap, so a slightly lower pillow suits it. A firm mattress needs a slightly higher one.

Gusset, adjustable fill or contour

A gusset is a band of fabric, usually a couple of inches deep, sewn between the top and bottom of a pillow, giving it straight sides like a box. It keeps the height out at the edges. Adjustable fills let you set the height yourself, which matters most if you are between sizes. Contoured foam pillows hold one shape all night but suit only one position.

If your neck hurts

A pillow that keeps the neck level is a reasonable thing to try, and an adjustable one is the cheapest way to experiment with height. But a pillow is not a treatment. If neck pain is persistent, comes with numbness or follows an injury, see a doctor or physical therapist before buying anything.

For more on fill types, firmness and how back and stomach sleepers should choose, see our guide to bed pillows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bed pillow for side sleepers?

For most, an adjustable pillow such as the Coop Original, because you can set the loft to your own shoulder width. For a traditional pillow, choose a firm, gusseted feather and down one.

How high should a pillow be for a side sleeper?

High enough to keep the neck level with the spine, which for most side sleepers means medium to high loft. Saatva, for one, sells its side sleeper loft at about 6 to 7 inches against about 4 for back and stomach sleepers. Broader shoulders need more.

What is a gusseted pillow?

One with a strip of fabric sewn around the edge, giving it straight sides. It holds more fill and keeps its height out to the edges, which suits side sleepers.

What is the best pillow for side sleepers with neck pain?

There is no single answer. Many people start with an adjustable pillow so they can find the height that keeps their neck level, or a contoured one like the TEMPUR-Ergo. Persistent pain is worth seeing a doctor or physical therapist about.

Should side sleepers use a firm or soft pillow?

Medium firm to firm. A soft pillow lets the head sink, which leaves the neck bent toward the mattress.

How often should I replace a pillow?

When it no longer springs back after being folded in half, or when it has gone lumpy or flat. Synthetic fill goes soonest; latex and good feather pillows last longest.