What is the best pillow for side sleepers?#
A side sleeper needs a high, firm pillow that holds its height all night: high enough to fill the gap between your ear and the mattress, so your head lines up with the rest of your spine. Because that gap depends on your shoulder width and how far your shoulder sinks into the mattress, the safest buy is an adjustable pillow you can tune, rather than a fixed one you have to guess.
Our short answer: the Simba Hybrid Pillow if you want the most adjustable option, the Emma Adapt Cooling Pillow if you prefer the feel of solid foam layers, and The Foam People Core pillow if you want to try shredded foam for about £13.
How we chose: we test mattresses hands-on, but we have not sleep-tested these pillows. The picks below are matched to the need on this page from each retailer's published specification (fill, height, adjustability, care), checked on 14 October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the retailer's site. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Our picks for side sleepers#
| Pillow | Fill | Adjustable? | Price (single) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simba Hybrid Pillow | Removable foam Nanocubes | Yes, add or remove cubes | £109 (£199 a pair) | Broad shoulders, anyone unsure of their height |
| Emma Adapt Cooling Pillow | Three foam layers | Yes, remove layers | £99 | Side sleepers who like a firm, even surface |
| Emma Comfort Cooling Pillow | Microfibre, two layers | Yes, remove the inner layer | £85 | Side sleepers who want a softer, fluffier feel |
| Simba HeatRelease Pillow | Memory foam with graphite strips | No (10cm high) | £119 | Hot sleepers with average shoulders |
| The Foam People Core | Shredded memory foam | Mouldable | About £13 | Trying shredded foam on a budget |
Simba Hybrid Pillow: the most adjustable#
The core is filled with small foam "Nanocubes" that you take out or add to change both the height and the firmness. That matters more for side sleepers than for anyone else, because the right height varies most between people: a broad-shouldered sleeper on a firm mattress needs a lot more loft than a slim sleeper on a soft one. Simba includes a bag to store the spare cubes, so you can put height back if you take out too much. It measures 45 x 70cm, has a zip-off cover that washes at 40°C, and the cover carries Simba's Stratos cooling treatment. It is the dearest pick here at £109, or £199 for a pair.
Emma Adapt Cooling Pillow: firm foam layers#
Three foam inserts (a cooling foam, a support foam and a softer comfort foam) sit inside a knitted cover, and you remove inserts to lower it. Emma describes the support as medium to firm. Layers give you fewer settings than loose fill, but each setting is perfectly flat and even, which some side sleepers prefer to the slightly lumpy feel of cubes or shreds. Emma gives a 30-night trial with a full refund and a two-year guarantee.
Emma Comfort Cooling Pillow: the soft option that still adjusts#
Microfibre rather than foam, with a thick base and a thinner removable inner layer. Emma's own advice is that side sleepers keep both layers in for the fullest height. Choose this if foam pillows feel too dense to you, but bear in mind that fibre fills compress more over a night than foam does, so a side sleeper with broad shoulders may find it flattens too far by morning.
Simba HeatRelease Pillow: if you sleep hot#
A fixed-height memory foam pillow, 41 x 61 x 10cm, with strips of graphite intended to draw heat away and a medium-firm feel. It is not adjustable, so it suits side sleepers with average shoulders on a medium mattress. The core is sponge-clean only; the cover zips off and washes at 40°C. Simba lists it at an "overstock" price of £119 while stocks last.
The Foam People Core: shredded foam for about £13#
Shredded memory foam, made from offcuts from the company's mattress production, in a quilted cover. Shredded foam can be pushed up into the gap under your neck, which is what side sleepers need. At around £13 it is a cheap way to find out whether you like shredded foam before spending £100 on an adjustable pillow.
How high should a side sleeper's pillow be?#
As a starting point, 10 to 14cm once your head is resting on it, which is higher than back or stomach sleepers need. Then adjust for two things:
- Shoulder width. The wider your shoulders, the bigger the gap between your head and the mattress, and the higher the pillow needs to be.
- Mattress firmness. On a soft mattress your shoulder sinks in and the gap shrinks, so you need a lower pillow. On a firm mattress you need a higher one. This is why a pillow that was perfect on your old mattress can feel wrong on a new one.
The check: lie on your side and ask someone to look at you from behind. Your neck should continue the straight line of your spine, neither tilted up towards the ceiling nor dropping towards the mattress.
Which fill is best for side sleepers?#
The fill matters less than whether it holds its height under the weight of your head for eight hours. In rough order of how well they hold up:
- Solid or layered memory foam: holds height best, but you cannot adjust a solid block.
- Shredded foam or foam cubes: holds height well and can be adjusted. Our first choice for most side sleepers.
- Microfibre and hollowfibre: soft and washable, but compresses more, so buy a fuller one than you think you need.
- Down and feather: the most mouldable but the least supportive. It works best as a second, softer pillow.
Get the mattress right too#
Side sleepers put the most pressure on their shoulders and hips, and a pillow cannot fix a mattress that is too firm at the shoulder. If you wake with a dead arm or a sore shoulder as well as a stiff neck, look at the mattress first: see our best mattress for side sleepers. For fills and loft in more detail, read our guide to choosing a pillow.
Frequently asked questions#
Should side sleepers use one pillow or two?#
One pillow at the right height, plus a second between the knees. Stacking two pillows under your head usually tips the head upwards rather than supporting the neck. A pillow between the knees stops your top leg rolling forward, which keeps your hips and lower back level.
Is memory foam good for side sleepers?#
Yes, as long as it is high enough. Memory foam holds its height well through the night, which side sleepers need. The common mistake is buying a low, contoured memory foam pillow designed for back sleepers.
Are adjustable pillows worth the money?#
For side sleepers, usually yes. The right height varies more between side sleepers than in any other position, and an adjustable pillow means you can correct a wrong guess rather than buy a second pillow.
How often should I replace my pillow?#
Every one to two years for fibre pillows, longer for foam. Fold it in half: if it does not spring back, the fill has broken down and it is no longer giving you the height you need.
