There’s plenty of debate about which sleep position is actually best. (Spoiler: there isn’t a “right” answer, but Dr. Janet Kennedy, a licensed clinical psychologist, says there is a wrong one. More on that later.) According to the Sleep Foundation, sleeping on your side is preferred by 60% of adults. If you're in that majority, did you know there’s a certain type of pillow you should be using?
"Sleeping in general is very important. It’s right up there with food and water as far as necessities to survive," chiropractor Dr. David Lask tells us.
Since sleep affects other aspects of your health, creating a high-quality routine should be a priority. Shop TODAY asked Kennedy and Lask about everything side sleepers need to know when it comes to choosing pillows, and we shared a few of our personal favorites and award-winning picks.
Shop TODAY Sleep and Bedding award winners
This No. 1 bestseller and award-winning cervical pillow has several different contours so it can accommodate any type of sleeper. The brand says they use two different thicknesses in the pillow so all you have to do is give it a 180-degree turn for a higher or lower contour, depending on your preference.
"From the first night that I lay my head down on this pillow I could immediately tell a difference in the level of comfort and support," writer Emma Stessman has said about this pillow. "Instead of making my neck bend in odd ways (which would sometimes lead to morning kinks and discomfort), thanks to the hollow center, this pillow allowed me to lie comfortably on my side without putting my head at an odd angle."
While I’ve been loyal to my Kohl’s pillow for the past few years, I’m always open to trying new things. Pillow Cube sent me this pillow to try and — while I was skeptical at first — I’ve actually found it quite comfortable. Instead of having a carved-out space for your head and neck, this pillow is one large square that slides perfectly in the space between your head and shoulder.
Will Beck, the company’s head of growth, tells us that this is because some pillows with that carved-out space can elevate your head too much and lead to the dreaded misalignment of your spine. The pillow cube comes in a range of thickness from 4-6 inches that you choose based on your height, but five inches tends to be the sweet spot for the average person.
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender says this pillow is a regular presence in her bed. “It’s really great because it provides full-body support courtesy of its wrappable design (and its 82-inch length allows me to use it as a head pillow AND a knee pillow at the same time),” she raves.
It’s covered in soft TENCEL lyocell fabric and, according to the brand, each pillow recycles approximately 55 plastic bottles. Plus, laundry day is a breeze with its zippered, machine-washable cover.
Commerce writer Danielle Murphy calls this Purple pillow the “softest pillow she owns.” A bestseller on the brand’s site, it’s made with the same cushioning technology used for their mattresses and has an inner core of hypoallergenic ventilated latex. Plus, the outer material is made with moisture-wicking, breathable mesh, according to the brand.
Murphy says the material feels good on the face and is “great if you hate firm pillows.”
Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
Winner: Best Adjustable Pillow
$89.00
Coop Sleep Goods
$99.00
Amazon
$99.00
Target
What to look for in pillows for side sleepers
Neck support
Kennedy says the most important thing to look for in pillows for side sleepers is proper support to keep your head and neck in alignment with your spine. “I recommend a contour pillow that has more structure in the neck area and a well or a dip where your head would go,” she tells us.
Not all contour pillows are built equally, so she suggests trying a few out until you find the one that’s right for you.
Size of the pillows
Lask recommends choosing pillows that are 2-3 inches thick. Thicker pillows — like those between 5-8 inches — can "crank your neck into flexion and cause issues," he says.
Pillows for more than just your head
The name of the side sleeper game is alignment, and you’ll need more than just a pillow for your head to achieve it.
In order to support the rest of your body throughout the night, Kennedy says you should be using a pillow between your knees or shins “to keep your hips aligned on top of each other so that you’re not twisting and torquing your spine one way or the other.”
It doesn’t end there. She also suggests holding onto a pillow between your arms to keep your shoulders in alignment, too.
By this point, you’re probably thinking you need a pillow fortress every night, but Kennedy assures us that’s not the case.
“You can accomplish [both of those things] with a full-length body pillow or with different pillows,” she says, adding that it all depends on your needs and preferences. She also mentions using a C-shaped or U-shaped pillow that go on both sides of your body as an option for people who roll over throughout the night.
“Instead of thinking about a one-size-fits-all solution, really think about your body and your anatomy and where you struggle to stay in alignment versus where it’s easy for you,” she notes.
Temperature-regulating and cooling materials
While it’s not specific to only side sleepers, Kennedy points out that it’s a good idea to look for temperature-regulating or cooling materials — whether that’s your pillowcase or the pillow itself.
“The temperature of the head is really important for regulating core body temperature, so if your head is super hot, then your body temperature is going to be elevated and that can affect the depth and restorative nature of your sleep,” she says. “Keeping your head cool during the night is really helpful for good quality sleep.”
The best pillows for side sleepers, according to experts and editors
This budget-friendly body pillow is a favorite of production associate Audrey Ekman. "As a side sleeper who tosses and turns all night, I love a body pillow," she says. "For those nights when I roll from one end of the bed to the other (like, a gazillion times), I use it as a head pillow stretched across the top of the bed. Occasionally, I’ll use it like a normal body pillow and wrap around it head to toe, too."
While the pillow itself only comes in white, you can choose from a variety of pillowcase colors to match your aesthetic.
As a side sleeper myself, this has been a personal favorite of mine — so much so that it’s the only pillow I’ve slept on for the past three years. It has the contouring Kennedy mentions, so my neck and shoulders are kept in alignment. After constant use, it’s even maintained its firmness, so I’m not worried about having to buy another one any time soon.
Before using this pillow, I always thought I needed more than one to be comfortable. It turns out that I just needed one really good one.
SEO writer Jannely Espinal says she recently received this pillow and has "never felt so comfortable."
"I haven't woken up with any neck pain since using this pillow and it puts me to sleep right away. The fabric feels soft and smooth, plus it feels cooling," she notes.
"The only pillow that I recommend in my practice is the Pillowise Custom Pillow," says Dr. Jan Lefkowitz, a chiropractor and founder of Body in Balance Chiropractic in New York City. "It is made from high-quality memory foam which is manufactured in The Netherlands and like many other pillows, it is contoured to support the neck," he adds.
"I’ve been using this pillow in my practice for at least six years, and I can tell you that our patients report getting much better sleep with less neck pain and we can also see the improvement in their neck and spinal alignment," Lefkowitz shares.
More pillows for side sleepers to shop
When you’re ready to upgrade from a regular pillow between the legs to a specialty pillow, try this option from Luna. While it’s designed to rest between your knees throughout the night, you can also use it to elevate your feet or rest your arm on during the day.
It comes in three sizes: standard, cooling standard and large. One verified five-star reviewer on Amazon said they used this pillow after a hip replacement and loved it so much that they continue to use it even though they’re fully healed.
According to the brand, it’s made with temperature-regulating memory foam and comes with a breathable casing.
“I have had no knee or leg pain since I started using this pillow six weeks ago,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “The configuration of the pillow makes it easy to bend or extend my legs and it tracks with my knees all night. I can actually sleep through the night now.”
While it’s called a pregnancy pillow, anyone can use this comfy U-shaped pillow. Measuring 57 inches long, it’s perfect for getting support from all sides throughout the night.
Frequently asked questions
While Kennedy doesn’t call out a best sleep position, she does call out the worst: on your stomach. “It’s really hard on your neck and back to sleep on your stomach,” she says. “It’s hard on your neck because you have to fully rotate [it]...and you could sleep with a pillow under your pelvis to help your back stay in neutral alignment but that feels a little cumbersome to people so generally I recommend not sleeping on your stomach.”
Lask echoes similar sentiments. “Most people who are stomach sleepers take one arm and put it up above their head and then that can actually cause damage to the shoulder,” he explains. “You end up with shoulder problems, neck problems from stomach sleeping. Definitely recommend avoiding stomach sleeping.”
Kennedy says sleeping on your back can be better for alignment if you use the right pillow, but it also puts you at risk for snoring and sleep apnea. “A lot of people have what’s called positional sleep apnea, which means that it only occurs on their back and so if they stay off their back, they don’t need a device to treat the apnea,” she explains.
While side sleeping can also present alignment issues, Kennedy says they’re workable by using pillows between your arms and legs. “How your body is positioned has a big impact on how you feel the next day.”
Lask says side sleepers should ideally lay on their right side, so their left side is up. “Your heart is on the left side of your body so if you put that side up, it puts less pressure down on your heart as you sleep at night,” he tells us.
As a side sleeper myself, I’m no stranger to waking up with shoulder pain on random days. The way to remedy this, according to Lask, actually lies beyond the bedroom. Aside from stretching and seeing a chiropractor, he recommends lifting weights to strengthen your shoulder to help avoid pain down the line.
“You want to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder. So shoulder press, bench press, arm curls, bicep curls, tricep extensions. [You want to] work all the muscles that connect into the shoulder, the deltoid [and] keep those strong.”
Lask says shoulder issues and pains can take up to a year to fully heal, so be patient with yourself. “The key is you kind of consistently do it over a time period, then you want to maintain it,” he advises. “The reality of it is, muscles atrophy if you don’t use them and work on them; they slowly shrink and atrophy. So you want to consistently, even after that pain is gone, continue doing exercises.”
If you’ve never slept with a pillow between your legs, jumping right into a specialty pillow might feel uncomfortable. Kennedy says that’s okay and suggests starting with a smaller, softer pillow. “Get used to what it feels like to have a soft regular pillow in there and then see if you feel like you need something more.”
She emphasizes that everyone’s body is different, so what works for someone else may not work for you. “You don’t have to start with what you think is going to be the perfect solution; you can build up to it,” she encourages. “Sleep is super sensitive. It’s hard to learn to sleep in a new position whether you’re trying to learn to sleep on your side versus your back or if you’re trying to change something about the way that you sleep on your side to improve your alignment.”
Lask advises keeping the amount of pillows on your bed to a minimum, especially if you’re laying on more than one at night, because it can put your neck in a bad position that may cause problems down the line.
Meet our experts
- Dr. David Lask is a chiropractor based in Crestwood, Missouri who has been practicing for over 25 years.
- Dr. Janet Kennedy, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in treatment of insomnia and other behavioral sleep disturbances. She is also the founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, where she consults on how to achieve your best sleep.
- Dr. Jan Lefkowitz is the founder and owner of Body in Balance Chiropractic in New York, New York.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team spoke with experts in the sleep medicine and chiropractic industries, including Dr. David Lask, Dr. Janet Kennedy, Ph.D, and Dr. Jan Lefkowitz, who talked about what makes a good pillow if you're a side sleeper. We scanned the internet and chose highly-rated pillows in a variety of styles that met the guidelines provided by the experts. Editors also left reviews for a few pillows that they've slept on for years.
To determine our winners for Shop TODAY's Sleep and Bedding Awards, we relied on our team’s previous experience with each item, keeping in mind several factors including quality, special features, value and overall satisfaction.
