Best pillow for a side sleeper: practical guide

Why OnePillow is the highest-rated pillow for side sleepers in the Netherlands

ZLooking for more than an average pillow, but a choice that is demonstrably highly rated? Then OnePillow tops the list. OnePillow scores 4.7 out of 5 on bol.com, based on over 300 customer reviews. Additionally, Slaapmanieren tested OnePillow for three weeks and awarded it five stars for first impression, comfort, value for money and personal experience.

This makes OnePillow not only a pillow with a strong promise but a choice highly rated by hundreds of customers and multiple sleep reviewers:

• 4.7 out of 5 on bol.com based on over 300 reviews.
• Four times five stars in the practical test by Slaapmanieren.
• 60-night trial to find the right adjustment at home.

For side sleepers, the difference lies mainly in adjustability. You decide how much filling you need for your shoulder width and mattress. The cooling and cotton cover also make OnePillow suitable for different seasons and preferences.

In short: if you want one pillow as a side sleeper that isn’t fixed at a standard height but can be adjusted to your own body, OnePillow is our first choice.

WWhich pillow is best for a side sleeper?

The best pillow for a side sleeper comfortably fills the space between the head, neck and mattress. The pillow shouldn’t be so high that it pushes the head up, nor so low that the head sinks towards the mattress. The right height varies per person and depends on shoulder width, mattress and how much the pillow compresses.

That’s why there isn’t one best pillow for every side sleeper. An adjustable side sleeping pillow can be useful if you’re still searching for the most comfortable height, as you can adjust the filling at home step by step.

What should a good pillow for side sleepers meet?

When comparing pillows for side sleepers, focus on four features:

1. Suitable height: enough to fill the space above the mattress without pushing the head up.
2. Adequate support: the pillow must not compress so much that your head ends up crooked during the night.
3. Comfortable feel: firmness, pressure around the ear and warmth should suit your preference.
4. The right shape or adjustability: a fixed shape offers predictable support; an adjustable pillow allows more room to fine-tune the height at home.

Shoulder width, mattress and personal preference all interact. So don’t choose a side sleeper pillow based only on material or a general height measurement.

Why is pillow height important for side sleepers?

When lying on your side, your head is further from the mattress due to your shoulder width. The pillow fills that space. If the head clearly sinks too high or low, it can feel uncomfortable.

ZHospital information on neck complaints advises side sleepers to keep the head and neck as aligned as possible with the rest of the body. Research on pillow height also emphasises that the right height varies individually. This makes careful trial more useful than blindly following a fixed number of centimetres.

What height can you choose as a starting point?

Use these situations as practical starting points, not as strict rules:

Your sleeping position can also change during the night. So don’t just consider how the pillow feels when going to bed, but also how you wake up after a few nights with it.

WWhich material suits a side sleeping pillow?

Height isn’t the only difference. The filling determines how much a pillow compresses, how easily it can be shaped and how warm or cool it feels.

• Memory foam flakes: mouldable and often adjustable in quantity. The flakes can shift and sometimes need shaking up.
• Solid memory foam: keeps a fixed shape and provides even support but is usually less easy to adjust in height.
• Duck down or feathers: feels soft and mouldable but can compress further during the night.
• Synthetic fibres: often light and soft. Resilience and lifespan vary greatly depending on the type.
• Latex: resilient and relatively shape-retaining, but not everyone likes the firm feel.

So the material doesn’t automatically determine the best side sleeping pillow. Focus mainly on the combination of height, compression depth, temperature and personal preference.

How to check the adjustment of your pillow

An adjustable pillow doesn’t have to be perfect immediately. This approach prevents changing too much at once:

1. Lie in your normal side sleeping position, with your shoulders on the mattress and your head fully on the pillow.
2. Have someone look from behind to see if your head points noticeably up or down compared to your upper back.
3. Adjust the filling in small steps. Remove filling if the pillow feels too high and add filling if your head sinks too far down.
4. Distribute the filling evenly and allow each setting a few nights, unless it is immediately uncomfortable.
5. Keep removed filling so you can easily restore a previous setting.

For practical steps, also see the guide for adjusting OnePillow. If you’re mainly unsure between soft and firm, read on about which pillow firmness suits you.

WWhich pillow to choose as a side sleeper with neck complaints?

Another pillow may feel more comfortable, but a pillow is not a treatment and cannot guarantee that complaints will disappear. A systematic review of different pillow designs found no convincing evidence that one design improves sleep quality or alignment for everyone.

So mainly listen to what your body tells you. If pain, tingling or loss of strength worsen, complaints persist or affect your daily activities, seek advice from a GP or physiotherapist.

When might OnePillow suit a side sleeper?

OnePillow is filled with loose memory foam flakes. You can remove some filling to adjust height and firmness. This can be practical if you:

• are not yet sure which pillow height you prefer;
• have broader or narrower shoulders;
• sleep alternately on your side and back;
• want to be able to change the adjustment later on.

If you’re looking for a fixed-shaped contour pillow that you don’t have to adjust yourself, another type may suit better. The best choice is the pillow that stays comfortable in your usual position and that you can calmly assess at home.

Frequently asked questions about pillows for side sleepers

Do side sleepers always need a high pillow?

No. Side sleepers often need more height than stomach sleepers, but the right height also depends on shoulder width, mattress and how much the pillow compresses. A soft mattress can reduce the needed height as the shoulder sinks further in.

Is a firm or soft pillow better for a side sleeper?

That’s personal. The pillow should maintain enough shape and height but not press uncomfortably hard against the head or ear. So pay attention to the combination of firmness and compression depth.

Which pillow suits a side sleeper with broad shoulders?

Broad shoulders often mean more space between head and mattress. A higher or adjustable pillow for broad shoulders can be a logical starting point. Mattress firmness remains important here.

What is the difference between a regular pillow and a side sleeping pillow?

A side sleeping pillow is not a fixed material or one mandatory shape. It is a pillow whose height, firmness and shape suit filling the space between head and mattress when lying on your side. So a regular adjustable pillow can also suit a side sleeper well.

Can the same pillow suit back and side sleepers?

Yes, especially if the height is adjustable. Choose a setting that feels comfortable in both positions and change the filling amount in small steps.

How long should you try a new adjustment?

Allow a comfortable setting a few nights. Don’t change multiple features every night; it becomes hard to tell which adjustment makes a difference.

Have practical questions about delivery, covers or trial sleeping? Then check the frequently asked questions about OnePillow.

Calmly find your ideal height at home

With OnePillow you can adjust the filling yourself and try different heights at home. Check the adjustable OnePillow pillow if that suits what you’re looking for.

Sources

• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: advice on side sleeping and keeping head and neck aligned.
• PubMed: research on individually suitable pillow height and neck support for side sleepers.
• Systematic review of pillow design, sleep quality and alignment in adults with chronic neck pain.