The 24 Best Pillows for Back, Stomach, and Side Sleepers

Below, we’ve broken down the best pillows for back sleepers, best pillows for side sleepers, and best pillows for stomach sleepers (including pillows for people with aching necks). You’ll find great, expert-recommended sleep picks from brands and retailers such as Casper, Brooklinen, Layla, Coop Home Goods, Amazon, Parachute, Tuft & Needle, Purple, and more.

(And if you’re on the hunt for the best pregnancy pillow, sex pillow, or silk pillowcase, we’ve written about those too.)

Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

If you’re a back sleeper, a lower-profile pillow is your friend. With a pillow that’s too high, you run the risk of craning your head and neck too far forward, leading to pain. The optimal height for a back sleeper’s pillow is about 10 centimeters (just under four inches), Michael Gallizzi, MD, MS, FAAOS, a spine surgeon with OrthoOne at Sky Ridge Medical Center, previously told SELF.

Here are some of the best pillows for back sleepers, including the Elite Rest Slim Sleeper and Bluewave memory foam pillow, both of which clock in at seven centimeters. If you prefer down, the Casper down pillow (which comes in both mid-loft and low-loft versions) is low enough for back sleepers and has supportive internal chambers that help it maintain its shape. For a supportive yet soft and cooling pillow, the Purple Harmony pillow contains Talalay Latex, surrounded by the company’s unique squishy grid material that resists overheating (which also goes into its SELF Certified mattress and seat cushion).

Casper Down Pillow (Standard Size)

Purple Harmony Pillow (Standard Size)

Saatva Memory Foam Pillow (Queen Size)

Parachute Down Pillow (Standard Size)

Elite Rest Slim Sleeper (Standard Size)

Bluewave Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

If your go-to sleep position is on your side, you may deal with neck pain. So, when it comes to finding the right pillow, “the goal is to ensure that your neck and head are aligned straight over your shoulders when sleeping,” Srikant Kondapaneni, MD, chief of pulmonary medicine at Englewood Health, previously told SELF.

Side sleepers should look for a higher-loft pillow, since the added height leaves space for your shoulder to lay comfortably without scrunching up. While a 2021 study noted that there isn’t an optimal height for pillows for side sleepers, another study suggests that 10 centimeters (or about four inches) is the most comfortable height for side sleepers (similar to what’s recommended for pillows for back sleepers). If you have broader shoulders, a taller firm pillow may feel better for your body and neck support. If you’re smaller, however, you can choose a lower-loft pillow.

Read on for sleep expert-recommended (and Sleep Foundation–awarded) pillows for side sleepers, including the high-loft, copper-infused, memory-foam Layla Kapok pillow and the machine-washable, medium-firm Coop Home Goods Eden pillow, which is filled with removable shredded memory-foam pieces and microfiber (meaning there’s an easily adjustable loft).

Layla Kapok Pillow (Queen Size)

Coop Home Goods The Eden Pillow (Queen Size)

DreamCloud Best Rest Memory Foam Pillow (Standard Size)

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Helix Down & Feather Pillow (Standard Size)

Sheex Original Down Pillow (Standard/Queen Size)

Nectar Resident Pillow (Standard Size)

Casper Original Pillow (Standard Size)

Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set (Standard Size)

Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers, you know who you are. According to the Mayo Clinic, this face-plant sleep position puts a lot of pressure on your neck and back because it causes your lower back to arch and shoulders to scrunch. Throw in a high-loft pillow and you only intensify that pressure, resulting in back pain. But, hey, if you’re going to sleep on your stomach no matter what, look for a lower-loft pillow (or sleep with no pillow at all, as the Mayo Clinic recommends). A 2017 paper suggested that seven centimeters (about three inches) is a comfy height for pillows for stomach sleepers.

We’ve gathered some of our top picks for best pillows for stomach sleepers. You’ll find flat, soft pillows like Parachute’s totally hypoallergenic down alternative pillow and Layla’s adjustable pillow which is stuffed with shredded memory foam and is one of the best cooling pillows.