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If you're a side-sleeper, there are a couple of things to carefully consider when choosing a pillow. First off, you want to prioritize proper spinal alignment by opting for a pillow with a high loft (height) and medium-firm to firm support. This combination ensures your head and shoulders are properly supported and that the pillow won't collapse under your weight overnight. As far as material goes, memory foam offers excellent contour, latex provides support and ample airflow, down offers a cloud-like, moldable feel, and down alternatives offer a denser, squishier feel than natural down. Ahead, we've got ample options, from soft but supportive pillows to firm pillows, and affordable pillows to splurge-worthy winners that side-sleepers like you love. 

A Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow that blends memory foam pieces with down alternative fibers for a design that contours to your head and neck and bounces back night after night. It comes in three shapes: Classic, best for stomach and back sleepers; Curved, best for side and back sleepers; and Ultimate, great for all sleep styles, with three removable inserts. To find your best fit, you can take the PillowFit quiz! 

Promising reviews: "I have spent years, and lots of money, trying to find a pillow that will help me sleep without my neck hurting. I have FINALLY found it! The Comfort Fit curved pillow is my dream come true. Now my husband wants one! He steals mine the moment I’m out of bed in the morning! Besides my neck hurting, I’m getting deeper, more consistent sleep. This pillow is a game changer!" —JenLynn821

"I've struggled for years to find the perfect pillow — one that's supportive yet comfortable, and doesn't leave me with a stiff neck in the morning. After countless disappointing purchases, I finally decided to try the Sleep Number Pillow, and I can honestly say it's been a game-changer. What truly sets this pillow apart is its adjustability. The ability to add or remove fill to customize the firmness and loft is revolutionary. Whether I'm sleeping on my back, side, or even occasionally my stomach, I can easily modify the pillow to provide the ideal level of support. It's like having many pillows in one! The materials feel premium and durable, and the pillow holds its shape beautifully throughout the night. I no longer wake up needing to constantly fluff or reshape my pillow." —Ptharbi

Get it from Sleep Number for $99+ (available in three styles and two sizes).

A two-pack of Utopia Bedding bed pillows reviewers love as they're fluffy and maintain their shape no matter how much you toss and turn. They feature a gusseted, hotel-style design that looks great and adds structure to prevent your pillows from going flat.

Promising reviews: "I normally don't write a review this quickly after purchase, but this is an exception. I am a side sleeper, and these pillows are amazing. After fluffing them in my dryer, they came out perfect. Truly, some of the best pillows I have ever purchased. The stuffing is comfortable and almost kept me in bed the next morning. Highly recommend they are worth the purchase." —Colby B.

"These are great pillows. I wanted a king-size pillow that was soft but still supportive, and these definitely fit the bill. I'm a side and back sleeper and need a pillow that is cushy but doesn't flatten when my head rests on it. I'm tired of suffocating because my nose gets buried in the pillow. Not so with these. Amazing support while still being soft and malleable. They come seriously compressed in the carton, but once you start to remove the plastic film, they start plumping up immediately." —Amazon Customer

Get a set of two from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in four sizes, eight colors, and in a set of four). 

A Brooklinen Down Pillow filled with premium Canadian duck down and finished with a 100-percent long-staple cotton sateen shell with durable double-stitching. It comes in three firmness levels — soft, medium, and firm — with firm being the best fit for side sleepers as it keeps your neck aligned. 

Promising reviews: "I am a side sleeper with frequent neck pain. The pillows I’ve had in the past don't provide enough neck support when I sleep on my side. This medium pillow from Brooklinen is perfect, I love sleeping on it and feel well rested without pain!" —kylie o.

"Perfect level of softness for someone who is both a side sleeper and a stomach sleeper. Too many feather pillows are not soft and fluffy enough to readjust and support your neck when changing sleeping positions. This pillow is perfect." —are d.

Get it from Brooklinen for $118.15+ (originally $139+; available in two sizes and three firmness levels).

A pair of Beckham Hotel Collection pillows that are literally the best-selling pillow on Amazon with more than 172,000 5-star reviews from all sorts of picky pillow people!!! They're soft, but they offer 8 inches of loft, which makes them ideal for side sleepers. 

Promising review: "I have purchased so many pillows over the past few years, I can't even count how many. I had almost given up! I always base my purchases on reviews, and as many have said, pillows are a personal preference. I have had such high hopes in the past, but no luck... until now! I am a side sleeper and always wake up with neck and back problems. This pillow has the exact right amount of support and conforms to my neck both when I am on my side or my back. My head sort of sinks down to a comfortable level without completely sinking to the bottom. It holds its shape all night, even with me flopping around all night like a fish out of water! I am a very hot sleeper as well, but I have not noticed any temperature issues with this pillow either. I have bought pillows at both ends of the $$ spectrum, and this one checks all the boxes for me. Highly recommend, I will def buy more!!" —Nellie from Wisconsin 

Get a set of two from Amazon for $41.97+ (available in three sizes).

A Casper Sleep Original Pillow packed with a clump-resistant microfiber fill, so a simple shake is all you need to "reset" things before bedtime. The popular pillow features a cotton cover with a breathable percale weave that allows for ample airflow. It's also removable, so you can throw it in the wash whenever it needs a refresh.

Promising review: "I’ve dealt with neck pain for years and have tried lots of pillows. The Casper Original Pillow is the one that finally helps me get a good night’s sleep and awaken without neck pain. I agree with other reviewers who’ve said it’s like sleeping on a cloud, while providing the right amount of firmness and support that keeps the head aligned with the spine without putting pressure on the shoulders. I’m a side and back sleeper, and it’s great for both positions. The fabric is a little crunchy, but that’s a very small minus compared to all the pluses." —Linda

Get it from Amazon for $60+ (available in two sizes and packs of one or two).

A reviewer-loved Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow that's filled with a cross-cut blend of memory foam and microfiber filling you can toy with until you find *just* the right balance of cushiness and firmness. 

Coop Home Goods is a small biz that makes all sorts of pillows, if this isn't the one for you!

Promising reviews: "I hardly ever write reviews, but I have to for this. I saw this pillow on TikTok, and it got me curious, so I immediately came to Amazon. OMG, it’s such a game-changer. I’m a side sleeper, and this pillow is heaven. It’s some of the most comfortable sleep I have had in ages. I love it so much, I bought a second one and have my eye on the body pillow. Obsessed! You need this in your bedroom." —MT

"This has been the best pillow I’ve ever had, and I will be buying more. These are well worth it; they stay cool. The perfect happy medium with firmness. I sleep a lot better. The only negative is it’s hard to get off the pillow when I wake up!" —Austin

Get it from Amazon for $85+ (available in two sizes and three shapes).

A splurge-worthy Tempur-Pedic Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow with a high-tech design that seamlessly adapts to your weight, shape, and temperature. Both sides of the pillow have a layer of Tempur-Breeze gel to keep you cool all night long! It also comes with a five-year manufacturer's warranty, so they're putting their money where their mouth is. 

Promising review: "This pillow is exactly what I wanted as a side sleeper. It is very heavy, contours my head and neck, and provides great support due to its height. I no longer have to fluff up my pillow to give support or place my hands/arms under my pillow for extra height while sleeping. It is also quite cool when I first lie down, but it doesn’t stay as cool through the night as body heat is dispersed (which doesn’t bother me —just a heads up if you are primarily looking for a cooling pillow). If you are looking for a medium/firm pillow and are a side/back sleeper… THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!" —Madeleine 

Get it from Amazon for $149+ (available in two sizes).

A Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow infused with temperature-regulating gel that disperses body heat, so if you sleep like an inferno, you won't spontaneously combust. The soft yet supportive memory foam also provides superior pressure relief, so you won't wake up feeling all out of whack. 

Promising review: "This is the standard side sleeper memory foam pillow for me. This is my second order; the previous one lasted about 6 years and would probably have lasted longer, but it was damaged in an accident. It ships squished up but will puff right up in under a day, although you should give it a full 2 days according to the instructions. While you can use it in other positions, the height and firmness for me are ideal for side sleeping. In fact, I think this is really only one of two pillows anyone would need, the other being a cervical pillow, which is better for back and stomach sleeping but can be less so for side (since you can only sleep on the very sides of that style pillow, versus in the middle of this one on your side)." —Zahid H.

Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in three sizes and individually or in a set). 

A Honeydew Essence Side Pillow with a unique shoulder cutout and adjustable fill so you can find your perfect alignment. Reviewers agree it helps eliminate neck and shoulder pain, and some even say it's great for relieving sleep apnea. 

PS: Honeydew Sleep Company is a small business that makes its pillows in California. 

Promising reviews: "This is heavenly relief for side sleepers. The way the pillow supports the back of your neck is way better than any pillow I’ve ever tried before (and I’ve tried a bunch over the years). But please note: follow the instructions on fluffing it up in the dryer before use. You’ll soon have a pillow that you’ll fall in love with!" —Jan D.

"If you are a side sleeper and like to hold your pillow at night, then this would be a nice pillow for you to try. It conforms around your neck, and your head lies comfortably inside the contour of the pillow. *Bonus — I now wake up in the morning without pillow lines and crease marks on my face. Most supportive pillows I have tried in the past are too firm, and 'squish' my face throughout the night — this pillow is supportive, but because it's gel, that problem has been solved for me." —Deborah

A Purple Harmony Pillow with a flexible honeycomb gel grid that cradles your neck and head to relieve pressure. A latex foam core also provides bouncy support, while a stretch-knit mesh cover keeps you dry and cool if you're a particularly sweater sleeper. This baby also comes in three lofts, so you can find your perfect fit. 

Promising reviews: "I’ve searched for a long time to find the perfect pillow for a side sleeper. One that does not require you to bunch it up under your neck for neck support. I finally found it! It’s fantastic. Head sinks in just right. The neck is supported. No more waking up with a stiff neck! Well worth the $180!" —Russell Trautwein

"Amazon is probably tired of my returning pillows. I tried close to a dozen and never found one I liked until the Purple Harmony. I'm mostly a side sleeper, and I've always slept on a standard latex foam pillow, but of late found the choices either too firm or too soft. Like Goldilocks, the Purple Harmony is just right. It seems to read my contour and adjust perfectly to my position and sleeping habits. It's a heavy pillow, but I don't really care what's inside; it just feels right, neither too soft nor too firm." —Rich

Get it from Amazon for $167+ (available in two sizes and three firmness levels).

A Pluto Puff Body Pillow that's 100-percent hypoallergenic, cool, and meant to be hugged! Some highlights: its synthetic fiber fill emulates 600-fill European down, it's machine-washable, and no matter how you contort it, it'll never lose its loft. 

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love it as a side sleeper, I am tossing and turning less and no longer have tight hips or a tight lower back." —Davis W.

"Been searching for a long time for the perfect pillow for me, and I have finally found it. As a side sleeper, it supports my head and back and, thanks to its unique design, provides space for my shoulders. It does all this without being too hard or soft, and it does not lose loft. Great pillow!" —James Q.

A Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Side Sleeper Pillow with a design that supports the natural curvature of your neck and high-density memory foam, which ensures your head doesn't slip out of alignment overnight. 

Promising review: "BEST Pillow for side sleepers. This pillow has made my neck pain go away, and I sleep much more soundly through the night. I highly recommend it if you are a side/stomach sleeper !!" —Peggy H.

"This pillow has been life-changing for me. I have tossed and turned for years and then wake up with my neck hurting every morning. Now that I've been sleeping on this pillow, I sleep more soundly and wake up without pain. I've recommended this pillow to everyone I know!" —Anonymous

Get it from Dosaze for $129.99+ (available in standard and king sizes).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Chelsea Stuart is a seasoned Shopping Editor with more than 10 years of experience covering travel (her favorite), home decor, fashion, and pet products under her belt. 

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.