The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, and Everyone in Between
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
Side Sleepers
Combination Sleepers
Stomach Sleepers
Back Sleepers
Your pillow needs can fluctuate based on how you like to sleep—on your side, on your back, or a combination of both. Finding the right pillow is a personal choice, meaning the best option for you might not be the ideal fit for your partner and vice versa.
"When it comes to quality sleep, your pillow is ultra-important," says Kien Vuu, MD, a concierge performance and longevity physician. "They play an important role in maintaining proper spinal alignment, so it's critical to understand how your sleep position informs which pillow is best for you."
For example, back sleepers generally get a better night's sleep with a pillow that offers soft to medium support, while those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs may feel more comfortable throughout the night when they use a softer pillow. As for side sleepers? They will benefit from a medium to firm iteration. No matter what type of sleeper you are, there are a handful of pillows on the market that are best suited to your needs.
Related: The Best Mattresses for People with Chronic Back Pain
Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
Sealy Molded Memory Foam Pillow
Slide sleepers make up 74 percent of the population. "Side sleeping can cause pressure on your joints and back, so it's especially important to choose the right pillow," says Dr. Vuu.
Firmer memory foam options, like this one from Sealy, are best for side sleepers. The molded composition offers relief from those aches and pains that can result from slumbering on too-soft pillows—this also keeps your head straight and your spine in proper alignment as you rest.
Sleep Philosophy Standard Knee Pillow
Those who prefer to side sleep don't just need head and neck support—their knees need attention, too. This contoured pillow, which should be placed between your legs, keeps your pelvis aligned and prevents your knees from resting uncomfortably together.
Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers
Sleep Artisan Encore Pillows
If you prefer an adjustable pillow that can meet a slew of needs, try this shredded foam-filled iteration. "I personally like shredded foam pillows since they can be adjusted for any sleep position," says Dr. Kien Vuu. "The Sleep Artisan brand has great designs for all sleepers." Best of all, you can raise or lower the built-in loft so you can customize your head position—simply remove any excess fill until you reach your desired height.
Ella Jayne Overstuffed Plush Gel Pillow
Perfect for both back and side sleepers, these gel-filled pillows are overstuffed, which means they have the support you need for a good night's sleep.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProMid + Cooling Memory Foam Pillow
If you toss and turn—switching from one sleeping position to the next—you will benefit from a breathable, high-stretch performance-fabric pillow like this one from Tempur-Adapt. The cooling fabrics are soothing and the medium support fill offers comfort to combination sleepers.
Great Sleep Foam Cluster Cuddle Pillow
Not sure about your preferred sleep position? Try this adjustable foam cluster pillow, which allows you to customize the fill level until you find the one that clicks.
Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
Pottery Barn Classic 550 FP White Down Chamber Pillow
Do you prefer to rest on your stomach? If so, you fall into a category of just 16 percent of all sleepers. "The best pillows for stomach sleepers are down or down alternative because they are especially soft," says Dr. Vuu. That's exactly why we like this classic feather-down iteration; the cover is made from 100 percent cotton, while the filling is composed of genuine feathers.
Elviros Cervical Memory Foam Pillow
If you're a stomach sleeper, it's important to note how high a pillow raises your head. "In general, stomach sleepers should aim for the head to be no more than an inch or so off the mattress," says Dr. Vuu. Sleep soundly on your stomach with this cervical memory foam pillow. The contoured design offers additional shoulder and neck support—while providing that 1 inch lift—by allowing you to tuck your arms underneath your head without applying additional pressure to them while you sleep.
Best Pillows for Back Sleepers
Alwyn Home James Hotel Quality Polyester Pillows
Not too soft, but not too firm—this medium support pillow is just right for people who prefer an option with mid-level support. Back sleepers will appreciate the way this pillow cradles the head.
Avocado Molded Latex Pillow
Back sleepers will appreciate the S-curve of this medium firm pillow, which begins at your neck and forms to your spine. Its charcoal-infused latex ensures even distribution, firm neck support, while simultaneously managing temperature and moisture, keeping you cool as you sleep.
Saatva Latex Pillow
With buoyant, balanced support, this latex pillow relieves pressure points for better sleep. It's filled with organic cotton and down-like micro-denier fiber. Recommended by chiropractors and orthopedists for its head and neck support, natural latex is hypoallergenic, dust mite and mildew resistant, and more breathable than synthetic iterations.
