It’s also on the firmer side and made of solid viscoelastic polyurethane and nanofibers (read: sturdy memory foam). Instead of the U-shaped cutout that snuggles closer to your shoulders, the Pillow Cube has a 90-degree angle to hold your head in place. Similar to the Elm & Eli pillow above, the Pillow Cube settles into that gap like a missing puzzle piece to lift your head into the perfect alignment. The pillow is designed to completely fill that essential space between your head and the mattress to keep your neck aligned. We get it, this pillow looks like a brick - but there is actually some logic behind the Pillow Cube. Memory foam | High loft | Firm | Machine-washable cover Meanwhile, for the average side sleeper who is simply looking for comfort and support, a standard pillow shape can likely get the job done. Thomas Schuler, chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute, explains that “these pillows are a relatively new product without much academic research examining their effectiveness.” However, he allows that “if a person tries one and finds that it seems to give some pain relief, then that’s excellent.” For people navigating chronic pain, a specialty pillow with a unique shape may be worth a shot, as they are designed to relieve bodily stress. Whether these pillow shapes actually make a difference in your sleep quality is up for debate, and Dr. Shape: Specialty pillows for side sleepers come in various shapes to help position your shoulders, neck, and head while you sleep. Additionally, Cushner and Foley suggest memory foam pillows, as they sort of mimic the softness of down by contouring to your body, while still providing support. For people who like to dream on a bed that feels like fresh brioche buns instead of a firmer surface, gusseted-down and down-alternative pillows can be a plush compromise. While there is room for personal preference here, a medium-firm pillow helps your head stay in the right position without sinking while you sleep. For taller people with broader shoulders, a higher loft may be more comfortable, and conversely, a petite person with more narrow shoulders will likely rest comfortably with a lower loft.įirmness: All of our experts agreed that medium-firm pillows tend to be the best option for people sleeping on their side. But don’t go breaking out your ruler just yet, as there is wiggle room with this number. Dennis Colonello, celebrity and professional-athlete chiropractor at Peak Wellness and all33 co-founder, suggests that your pillow be around four inches off of your mattress. If a pillow is too flat or too high, it can create an uneven muscle tone in the neck and shoulders, leading to spasms over time.” While there isn’t a formula to figure out the ideal loft of your pillow, Dr. Toussaint-Keshinro explains that “keeping your head, neck, and shoulders in a neutral and even position is most important. Loft: The loft, or height, of your pillow is a crucial factor for side sleepers to consider. We spoke to Cushner, Foley, Toussaint-Keshinro, and three more experts about what to look for in pillows for side sleepers and which ones they recommend.īest overall | Best (less expensive) overall | Best memory foam | Best height-specific | Best latex | Best vegan latex | Best adjustable loft | Best cooling | Best neck support | Best down | Best down alternative | Best for shoulder pain | Best body pillow “Side sleepers usually need thicker pillows to fill the space between their head and neck, but a pillow that is too thick may cause neck pain and put pressure on the spine,” Foley said. While firmness and fill type are dictated by your sleeping preference, Cushner and Foley say that the loft, or height, of your pillow, is more important if you sleep on your side. Rennes Toussaint-Keshinro, a chiropractor and mental-health coach, tells us that a side sleeper should “maintain a neutral position/posture of the back,” which means your pillow should lift your head high enough that it lines up with your neck and your spine but not so high that it puts painful stress on that area. But to achieve the perfect spine, neck, and head alignment, choosing the right pillow is key.
Side-sleeping is “one of the healthiest sleeping positions because of its ability to improve spinal alignment, reduce the risk of snoring, and reduce back pain,” Cushner tells us. But side-sleeping is more than a comfortable way to cozy up according to Keith Cushner, a product expert at, and his colleague Logan Foley, a sleep-science coach and the managing editor at, it’s also good for your health. If you like snoozing on your side, you’re in good company - it’s the sleep position preferred by 60 percent of adults. Dreaming of a just-firm-enough side-sleeper pillow.
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