Best pillows for side sleepers

Top pick: Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow. It's built for side sleeping specifically — a tall, firm-ish shredded fill you can add to or take out so your neck stays level with your shoulders, and a breathable knit cover that sleeps cooler than solid foam.

Who the others suit:

• Pillow Cube Side Cube — a 5" block that fills the gap under your neck and shoulder; best if you want a fixed, low-profile shape.
• Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt Pro — slow-responding memory foam with a cool-to-touch, washable cover; pick it if you like a dense, pressure-relieving feel.
• Purple Harmony — comes in low, medium and tall heights, so you can match your shoulder width; good for hot sleepers.
• Premium Original Adjustable — the budget route to adjustable loft; side and back sleepers.
• EZBY Side Sleeper with Arm Hole — for side sleepers who tuck an arm under the pillow.
• Mainstays Back & Side Sleeper — a cheap two-pack for a guest bed or a first try.
• Riousery Cervical Memory Foam — contoured neck support if you wake with a stiff neck.

Rule of thumb: side sleepers want a pillow roughly as thick as the gap between your neck and the mattress — too flat and your head drops, too high and your chin tucks.