The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, and Hot Sleepers
I used to just grab whatever pillow was on sale and call it good. Then I started paying attention to how I was actually sleeping, and waking up with a stiff neck one too many mornings will do that to you.
The right pillows matter. Not in an overly complicated way, but in a “your neck and your sleep quality will thank you” way. Once you find the one that works, you stop thinking about it entirely.
It might take a couple pillows to find the right one, or check out my recommendations for every sleep type – it’s sure to help you hone in on the perfect pillow for you!
Why Your Pillow Type Matters
Your pillow needs to keep your head, neck, and spine in a neutral alignment while you sleep. The problem is that what achieves that alignment looks completely different depending on how you sleep. A side sleeper needs more loft and firmness to fill the space between their shoulder and head. A back sleeper needs medium support that cradles without pushing the chin forward. A stomach sleeper needs almost no loft at all.
Most people are sleeping on the wrong pillow for how they actually sleep and most people have no idea that’s why they’re waking up sore.
What to Look for Before You Buy
- Loft — how tall the pillow is. Higher loft for side sleepers, medium for back, low for stomach.
- Firmness — how much pushback it gives. Firmer for side, softer for back and stomach.
- Fill material — memory foam, latex, natural latex, cotton, down, down alternative, buckwheat, wool. Each feels completely different.
- Washability — can you actually launder it? You should be washing your pillows 2–4 times a year.
- Certifications — look for CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold, GOTS organic, or OEKO-TEX for cleaner materials.
My Top Pick for Almost Everyone: Coop Original Adjustable Pillow
If you want one recommendation and you’re not sure where to start, this is it.
The Coop Original Adjustable is the most consistently recommended pillow I’ve come across — and for good reason. It’s filled with shredded memory foam and microfiber that you can add or remove to dial in exactly the right loft and firmness for how you sleep. Side sleeper who runs warm? Add a little fill. Back sleeper who prefers something softer? Take some out.
It’s CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified, comes with a 100-night trial and a 5-year warranty, and is machine washable.
The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers need the most support — a higher loft that fills the gap between your shoulder and your ear and keeps your spine neutral. If you’re waking up with neck or shoulder pain, your pillow is almost certainly too flat.
Look for: firm to medium-firm, higher loft, memory foam or latex fill.
Top pick: Coop Original Adjustable — the adjustable fill makes this ideal for side sleepers because you can build it up exactly as high as you need it.
The Best Pillows for Back Sleepers
Back sleepers need medium loft and medium firmness — enough to support the natural curve of the neck without pushing the head too far forward. Too high and your chin tucks toward your chest. Too flat and your neck has no support at all.
Look for: medium loft, medium firmness, memory foam, latex, down or down alternative.
Boll & Branch has 3 different pillow fills for side, back and stomach sleepers – a great option!
The Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping is the hardest position to find a pillow for — and honestly, it’s also the hardest on your neck. If you’re a stomach sleeper, you want as little pillow as possible, or none at all under your head, with a thin pillow under your hips instead.
Look for: low loft, very soft, down or thin down alternative.
The Brooklinen Down Pillow is a great choice for back sleepers that want 100% down fill.
The Best Pillows for Hot Sleepers
If you wake up hot in the night, your pillow could be part of the problem. Memory foam — especially traditional solid memory foam — traps heat. Shredded fills breathe much better, and natural latex is naturally temperature-neutral.
This is where I’d point you toward the Coop Adjustable Pillow.
It’s filled with natural Talalay latex — which is breathable, eco-friendly, and naturally cooling in a way that foam just isn’t. You still get the adjustable fill so you can customize the loft, and it includes an extra half-pound of fill so you have room to experiment.
Another great option is the Glacier Memory Foam Pillow.
Natural Fill Options
- Natural latex — responsive, breathable, durable, naturally resistant to dust mites and mold. The Coop Adjustable Latex is a great accessible option here.
- Cotton — similar feel to down alternative but natural fibers – washable and fluffy.
- Wool — naturally temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, and hypoallergenic.
- Buckwheat — firm, fully adjustable, very breathable, and long-lasting.
- Down — soft, lightweight, moldable. Look for responsibly sourced down.
- Down alternative — hypoallergenic, easier to wash, and much more budget-friendly (not always a natural fill but cotton has a similar feel)
The one thing I always check: certifications. GOTS organic, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, or GREENGUARD Gold tell you the materials have been tested and meet clean standards. Definiltely worth seeking out. Circadian Rest is a New Jersey company that carries great options for natural pillows that are all adjustable – I love their Organic Cotton pillow!
See all my favorites for pillows here
How Often Should You Wash & Replace Your Pillows?
Every 1–2 years for most fills. Every 2–3 for quality latex or buckwheat.
The fold test: fold your pillow in half. If it springs back, it’s still good. If it stays folded — it’s time to replace it.
Wash pillows 2–4 times a year. Go here for the full guide to washing all bedding types.
Don’t forget pillow protectors.
They go between your pillow and your pillowcase, extend the life of your pillow significantly, and wash easily. Here are a couple options:
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