Goodbye, Lumpy Pillows! We Found the Best from Serta, Coop, and Saatva That Support Your Head and Neck

If you keep waking up with a stiff neck, your pillow could be to blame — especially if it’s old and lumpy. 

It’s time to replace your pillow, but how do you find the right one? While it’s tempting to reach for the first fluffy one you find, you should choose based on your preferred sleeping position — whether that’s on your back, stomach, or side. 

The National Sleep Foundation recommends “pillows that support your spine,” and studies have shown that pillow height and other features can affect sleep quality when your head and neck are not properly aligned. You’ll need specific support depending on how you sleep, so it’s important to know which features to examine closely. 

This guide to shopping for pillows based on sleeping positions will help you find the right one and finally get a good night’s rest. Plus, we’re including our top picks at Amazon from Serta, Coop, Saatva, and more — starting at just $23.

Best Pillows for Back, Stomach, and Side Sleepers at Amazon

• Seen with Taylor Swift: Coop Original Adjustable Pillow, $89
• Chiropractor- and Orthopedist-Recommended: Saatva High-Loft Pillow, $185
• Nasa-Inspired: Nuzzle Cooling Adjustable Pillow, $49
• Allergen-Free Materials: Serta Down Illusion Pillow, $38 (orig. $45)
• Two-Pack: Pacific Coast Goose Feather Down Pillow, $108 (orig. $120)
• 100% Cotton: Three Geese Goose Feather Pillow, $28
• 171,000+ Five-Star Ratings: Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows, $60 (orig. $80)
• Breathable Memory Foam: Iwacool Thin Cooling Gel Pillow, $30 (orig. $36)
• Washer- and Dryer-Safe: Downlite Extra Thin Pillow, $125
• Reinforced Gusseted Edges: Utopia Bedding Soft Pillows, $23 (orig. $30)

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers benefit from using supportive pillows that prevent the head from sinking into the pillow, placing the neck at an awkward angle. Some side sleepers prefer thicker and harder pillows to achieve this support level, while others prefer slightly softer pillows that hold their shape to prevent collapsing. Many pillows for side sleepers are also made with cooling materials that prevent their ears and faces from sweating. 

Coop Original Adjustable Pillow

Taylor Swift appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 10 and shared that she and her four-legged companion sleep on what appears to be the Coop Pillow while they’re on the road.

It has removable memory foam so you can find your ideal levels of loft and firmness. Need a bit more of both? Coop includes an “Extra Oomph” memory foam packet with this pillow, making it a great choice for side sleepers who prefer a high level of firmness with consistent head and neck support. It also has a breathable fabric cover that is ultra-soft and machine-washable.

Support Level: Adjustable | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Outer Materials: Lulltra | Fill Materials: Memory foam, microfiber, gel fiber, polyester | Sizes: Queen and king

PEOPLE shopping writer Toni Sutton tried the Coop pillow and “noticed a difference” in “neck stiffness after the very first night.” It molded to her body, keeping her “head and spine aligned… no matter how much [she] shifted” while she slept. “It stays supportive all night, and I wake up feeling… more refreshed,” Sutton added. 

Supa Modern Side Sleeper Pillow

Saatva High-Loft Pillow Pillow

Nuzzle Cooling Adjustable Pillow

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers should opt for pillows with medium loft and firmness to cradle their heads. This supports the cervical spine’s natural curve and prevents the head from tilting backward, causing neck strain. These pillows are also the ideal thickness to provide modest support around the shoulders.

Serta Down Illusion Pillow

This down-alternative pillow supports the head and neck with medium loft and fluffy fiber that bounces back after each night. It’s covered with soft microfiber and has an allergen barrier, preventing dust and germs from seeping inside the pillow. It’s available as medium/firm or soft/medium, in case you need an in-between firmness level. One back sleeper called it “Squishmallow comfy” and said that they “didn’t wake up once to adjust the pillow.”

Support Level: Medium | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Soft/medium or medium/firm | Outer Materials: Polyester microfiber | Fill Materials: Polyester | Sizes: Queen and king

Pacific Coast Goose Feather Down Pillow

Three Geese Goose Feather Pillow

Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows, 2-Pack

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers should reach for low-loft pillows that are thin and soft, as they can minimize neck strain. Thin pillows also leave adequate room for sleepers who place their arms beneath the pillow while they sleep. Like side-sleeper pillows, many of these have cooling features since stomach sleepers also lean on their cheeks and ears all night.

Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows, 2-Pack

These Beckham pillows have a lightweight down alternative fill that offers soft support to stomach sleepers. Although they compress into a comfortable height, sleepers can fluff them up as needed. The pillows have a 250 thread-count cotton shell that is thin and breathable, allowing for airflow around the head. One stomach sleeper called it the “perfect pillow” that remains cool, which means they’re “not doing a middle-of-the-night pillow flip.”

Support Level: Medium | Loft: Low to medium | Firmness: Soft | Outer Materials: Cotton | Fill Materials: Polyester | Sizes: Queen, king, and European

Iwacool Thin Cooling Gel Pillow

Bluewave Ultra Slim Gel Pillow

Utopia Bedding Soft Pillows, 2-Pack

Downlite Extra Thin Pillow