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Our featured picks
Wedge-shaped support
Kölbs Bed Wedge Pillow
For side sleepers
Naturepedic Organic Side Sleeper Pillow
An editor-favorite solution
The Snorinator Anti-Snoring Pillow
Read our review
Don’t mistake your snoring for something harmless: Depending on the severity, it could indicate a serious problem with your sleep health. “Snoring often disrupts sleep quality, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating,” Dr. William Lu, a sleep expert and medical director at Dreem Health, said. What’s more, chronic snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, Lu added, which is tied to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression. While a trip to the doctor and a sleep study are likely in order, anti-snore pillows can help too.
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“They’re designed to keep your head, neck and airflow passage in the best possible position, so you’re able to inhale and exhale better while you’re sleeping,” Dr. Emma Lin, a pulmonary and sleep medicine physician and cofounder of ReadyO2, said. “Some are uniquely shaped or actually have sensors that respond when you do snore. Other pillows may have some use, but if they’re not engineered to stop snoring, then they’re not as effective.” Ahead, I’ve rounded up some of the best pillows for snoring, all of which have earned approval from sleep experts or CNN Underscored editors.
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Best pillows for snoring
Kölbs Bed Wedge Pillow
Andrew E. Colsky, a trained behavioral sleep medicine clinician and founder of the National Sleep Center, recommends this wedge-shaped anti-snore pillow that’s designed to gently elevate and support the head. “It’s made of high-density foam for support and has a plush memory foam top layer to contour your head,” he said. “It also comes with a machine-washable cover so that you can keep it clean.” It comes in multiple sizes to suit a range of needs, from standard to extra-wide, and even a four-piece set to support your entire body.
Donama Cervical Pillow
If you’re looking for a contoured memory foam pillow to help with snoring, the Donama Cervical Pillow is made for just that. The pillow’s unique design is suitable for stomach, side and back sleepers. “It’s made from a breathable fabric and is designed with side flaps that allow space for your arms if you sleep on your side or stomach,” Colsky said. This pillow comes in three sizes — standard, queen and king — and three colors to match your bedroom style. It also comes with a cooling pillowcase, which will feel ultra-refreshing for hot sleepers.
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Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Neck Ergonomic Pillow
It turns out this Tempur-Pedic neck pillow isn’t just a wise option for those struggling with neck pain but also for snoring. “The Tempur-Neck pillow is designed with a contoured shape to support the natural curve of the neck, promoting proper alignment and reducing snoring caused by airway obstruction,” Leah Kaylor, a clinical and prescribing psychologist who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and specializes in sleep and trauma, said. “Its firm memory foam provides consistent support for back and side sleepers.”
Naturepedic Organic Side Sleeper Pillow
If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic and organic option, Kaylor recommends this side sleeper pillow, which features a breathable cotton cover and a shredded latex fill that’s designed to repel allergens like dust mites and dander. “Its adjustable fill allows customization of loft and firmness, ensuring optimal head and neck support to maintain open airways during sleep,” she said.
The Snorinator Anti-Snoring Pillow
CNN Underscored copy chief Daniel Toy found that the Snorinator held true to its name, helping reduce the frequency and decibel level of his snoring. “If your snoring has been an ongoing problem in the bedroom, it’s definitely an anti-snoring pillow worth trying,” he said. Since receiving a sleep apnea diagnosis, Toy has traded his Snorinator for a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine, as the brand says the pillow “is not intended for use by individuals suffering from sleep apnea.” Still, Toy said that the pillow “can help many, many fellow snorers out there whose snoring isn’t actually a disguised apnea episode.”
Read our review
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Nitetronic Z6 Smart Anti-Snore Pillow
If you’re a fan of the data you get from your favorite smartwach, consider a pillow that provides metrics about your slumber and automatically shifts your sleep position to clear your airways. “This pillow comes with sensors to monitor snoring, and positions your head to a tilt to reduce it,” Lin said. According to the physician, this premium pillow, crafted with velvet-filled memory foam pads, is a good option for those with “mild apnea during sleep or with long-standing snoring.”
Pyramid Pillow Anti-Snoring Pillow
Lin also recommends this wedge pillow from Amazon, which she said is ideal for individuals who tend to snore more when they’re sleeping on their back. According to the brand, its 9.5-degree wedge is said to use “gravity to keep your tongue clear of your airway,” allowing users to feel relief from snoring.
CozyPlayer Ultra-Cooling Memory Pillow
This cooling pillow is an ideal pick for side sleepers, according to Lin. “The contours ensure your head and neck are set, and you have cooling foam to prevent congestion — another snoring cause,” she said. Its 15-degree tilt is also designed to create proper spinal alignment and reduce pressure for all-over comfort.
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Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow
According to Dr. Sandip Sachar, a dentist with advanced training in dental sleep medicine and the owner of Sachar Dental, pillows made from contour memory foam help support the natural curve of your cervical spine, which promotes proper alignment within your airway. She singles out this Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow as a popular option and an ideal pick for side and back sleepers.
Brentwood Home Zuma Wedge Pillow
If your snoring is the result of nasal congestion or reflux, wedge pillows like the Brentwood Home Zuma Wedge Pillow can be particularly useful, Sachar said. It comes with a machine-washable cover and is available in three heights that help align your spine for a snore-free snooze.
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Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
Want to put your snoring to bed? Sachar recommends looking for adjustable-loft pillows since they allow you to personalize height and firmness to better suit your sleep position, whether you’re a side or stomach sleeper. “The Coop Home Goods Adjustable Pillow is a popular choice and is particularly helpful for combination sleepers,” she said. It’s also received praise from our testing and updates writer, Michelle Rae Uy, who named it the best pillow for back sleepers, writing that it also offered plenty of neck support.
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Read our review
How to choose the best pillows for snoring
Consider the severity of your snoring
According to Lin, investing in the right pillow is one of the simplest wellness improvements a snorer can make before resorting to more involved treatments like a CPAP machine or surgery. That said, adding an anti-snore pillow to your sleep routine may not be the best option for everyone. According to Colsky, it’s important to identify your level of snoring. He said that if your snoring is light to moderate, then a sleep pillow may help. “If your snoring is severe, you’re better off getting tested for obstructive sleep apnea, as an anti-snoring pillow will probably not help this condition,” he said.
Consider your sleeping position
Our experts agreed that you should consider your sleeping position when shopping for an anti-snore pillow. “If you sleep on your back and snore, look for a contoured pillow that encourages you to sleep on your side or a wedge pillow that slightly elevates your head,” Colsky said.
On the flip side, if you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want to look for a memory foam pillow or a contoured pillow that can help you maintain proper neck alignment and an open airway. If you’re open to sticking to one particular helpful position, Sachar recommends side sleeping as your best snore-preventing option. “Pillows that comfortably maintain a side-sleeping position, such as body pillows or specially designed anti-roll pillows, are beneficial because they help prevent accidental rollover onto the back,” she said.
Look for smart pillows
While you might have the best intentions, willing yourself into new sleep positions might not do the trick, especially if you’re prone to tossing and turning. Colsky recommends considering smart pillows that can detect snoring and encourage you to change your position accordingly. Similarly, Dr. Roger Washington, a former primary care physician and the current medical director and founder of Sleep to Live Well Foundation, said the only anti-snore pillows worth considering listen to your snoring through an integrated microphone and use mechanical adjustments to reposition the sleeper.
Go for the Goldilocks of firmness
According to Sachar, snoring fares best on a pillow boasting a moderate level of firmness. “A medium-firm pillow is often ideal because it provides enough support to maintain proper head and neck alignment without collapsing,” she said. A soft pillow won’t offer adequate support and will allow the head to sink, which could narrow the airway, while a too-firm pillow can cause neck strain and discomfort, leading to poor sleep posture.
Think about the material
Kaylor recommends looking for materials that are supportive and not too firm or too soft, like memory foam, which is “known for its ability to contour to the shape of the head and neck, providing consistent support and maintaining airway alignment,” she said. Latex is also a smart option for its supportive feel and ability to repel dust mites and other allergens.
If you’re looking to customize the loft and firmness of your pillow, Kaylor said to go for pillows with adjustable fills like shredded memory foam or latex. Other materials to look for include buckwheat hull pillows. While they tend to be heavier and noisier than other options, Sachar said they’re breathable, naturally hypoallergenic and ideal for sleepers who want “to customize loft and firmness precisely.” According to Lin, practitioners in her practice regularly recommend memory foam or wedge pillows to patients who snore or have mild obstructive sleep apnea.
Consider durability and breathability
Lu recommends considering the durability of the pillow, adding that you’ll want to find a model that retains its shape throughout the night. Breathability is another factor you might overlook when shopping for anti-snore pillows, but it’s worth prioritizing. “Heat-retaining pillows can lead to restless sleep and more frequent position changes, potentially worsening snoring,” Sachar said. That’s why she recommends looking for pillows made from breathable fabrics and cooling materials.
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FAQs
“Snoring occurs during sleep when the airflow that moves through your mouth, nose or throat becomes partially blocked,” Colsky said. “As a result, the tissues in your throat vibrate, creating the sound that you recognize as snoring.” According to Colsky, several factors may contribute to an airflow obstruction, including nasal congestion, your sleeping position and anatomical factors like a deviated septum.
“Anti-snore pillows are designed to improve your head, neck or body positioning to keep your airway open and reduce the tissue vibrations that cause snoring,” Colsky said. These types of pillows are most beneficial for people who have positional-based snoring.
According to Colsky, elevating your head can prevent or reduce snoring for some people. For example, if you typically sleep on your back and you’re a mild to moderate snorer, elevating your head can keep your tongue from falling back into your throat, which opens your airways and improves airflow. Colsky emphasized that it’s important to avoid elevating your head too much, since that can bend your airway, which will worsen snoring. “This is why you don’t want to simply stack pillows behind your head,” Colsky said. “Rather, you should look for specially designed pillows to help elevate your head without the drawbacks.”
According to Colsky, moderate to firm pillows will reduce snoring, as either level can help align your head and neck. “Soft pillows are not recommended because they may allow your head to sink deeply, which can bend your neck and narrow your airway,” he said.
Meet our experts
For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights:
- Andrew E. Colsky, trained behavioral sleep medicine clinician and founder of the National Sleep Center
- Leah Kaylor, clinical and prescribing psychologist who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and specializes in sleep and trauma
- Dr. Emma Lin, pulmonary and sleep medicine physician and cofounder of ReadyO2
- Dr. William Lu, sleep expert, physician and medical director at Dreem Health
- Dr. Sandip Sachar, dentist with advanced training in dental sleep medicine and owner of Sachar Dental
- Dr. Roger Washington, former primary care physician and current medical director and founder of Sleep to Live Well Foundation
Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored editors and writers ensure every product included in an article is thoroughly vetted and something we ourselves would feel comfortable buying and using. Our team has many decades of collective experience researching, testing and recommending products across every category — from fashion and food, to home goods and health, to electronics and everything in between — and we’re committed to using that expertise to help you make the most of your money and live a better life.
For this story, CNN Underscored associate editor Rachel Dennis interviewed several medical professionals for their insights on what to look for when shopping for pillows that can help with snoring.
Rachel Dennis is an associate lifestyle editor at CNN Underscored. She oversees the site’s celebrity column, The Essentials, and contributes to lifestyle coverage through roundups and one-off reviews. You can find her watching Lifetime movies, brushing up on her music skills or playing video games.
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