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Snorers and anyone who shares a bed with one deserve peaceful Zzz’s without being woken up by loud snoring. “Snoring means that something is blocking the way air normally moves from your mouth and nose into your lungs,” says William Reisacher M.D., an otolaryngologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. Snoring can sometimes be caused by an uncomfortable pillow that tilts your neck in a direction that blocks airflow. There are many ways to help reduce your snoring — including using an anti-snore pillow. Cool Pillow
To prevent snoring in the first place, you need a comfortable pillow to keep your neck in the proper position for breathing. The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab has tested over 160 pillows with over 500 different at-home sleep testers to find the top-performing styles for quieter sleep. In our Lab, we evaluate them for aspects like durability, washability and even pillowcase fit. Consumer testers provide feedback on comfort, neck support, temperature regulation and whether the pillow helped reduce snoring. We analyzed over 5,000 data points before making these recommendations for the best pillows for snoring.
After browsing our top picks, continue reading to learn more about what causes snoring, how to shop for an anti-snore pillow and other tips to reduce snoring from physicians.
Acing our Lab tests and receiving the top overall score out of all the tested pillows, this Coop Home Goods pillow is designed for all sleeping positions. With an innovative fill blend of shredded memory foam and fiber clusters, it's both plush and supportive. You can add or remove the fill to find the ideal height to keep your neck properly aligned and reduce snoring.
We love that, unlike most shredded memory foam pillows, both the cover and the inner pillow are entirely machine washable. The outer cover did show some fuzziness after multiple wash and dry cycles. The pillow also bounced back to its original shape in our Lab pressure tests. If you're a hot sleeper, we recommend the brand's Eden pillow, which has a similar construction with added cooling gel.
Tester notes: Giving high marks across the board for comfort, neck support and waking up without soreness, many testers said this is their new favorite pillow. One tester said she was "able to comfortably switch from side to back to stomach and still feel supported and comfortable." Testers loved that the fill is entirely adjustable, so you can find the best height that keeps your snoring to a minimum. It can be a bit messy when adjusting the fill, so it's not something you'll want to do regularly. We know we've found a high-quality product when our GH analysts continue to use it at home with one saying it "perfectly cradles my neck for ultimate support even after years of use."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Here's Why The Coop Home Goods Pillow Is Our Top-Tested Pillow
Most pillows we tested cost over $100, meanwhile these affordable pillows are sold as a set for under $40 — and they outperformed pillows over four times the price. These Amazon Basics pillows have a down alternative fiber fill that's plush and soft; some testers said they laid their head on one pillow and hugged the other while sleeping. Available in two firmness levels, the medium option is best for side sleeping, which is the best sleeping position to minimize snoring.
We washed and dried this pillow five times in our Lab and it stayed in great condition with no shrinkage and minimal changes in appearance. However, it took a bit of time to return to its original shape during our pressure tests.
Tester notes: Testers praised its softness, loving its plush feel and affordable value. "I liked how fluffy this pillow is and how well it maintains shape after continued use," reported one tester. Some testers wish it was denser and more supportive to prevent any neck pain.
Side sleepers need a firm, tall pillow to keep their head from bending down when resting on their side. While most pillows taper at the edges, the Pillow Cube has an innovative design with 90-degree edges to fill the gap between your shoulder and your neck. Dr. Reisacher recommends side sleeping as a way to help minimize snoring, so this pillow is a great way to encourage the practice. But because of this pillow's rectangular shape, it's not good choice for those who sometimes sleep on their backs or stomachs.
Although we were at first skeptical of this pillow's unique shape, we were impressed by its performance in our Lab tests and how comfortable it was to sleep on all night long. Even with its rectangular shape, it did fit relatively well in a standard-size pillowcase, and the foam immediately returned to its original shape after weights were applied. If you want different height options, check out the brand's new Side Cube Deluxe pillow.
Tester notes: Our testers were blown away by the unparalleled support this pillow provided when sleeping on your side. "I like that it’s supportive to the very edge since it doesn’t taper off," said one tester. "It’s great for me as a side sleeper." Another tester said, "I used to ball up an extra pillow to support my neck at night or sleep with my hand under my neck, but now I don’t have to anymore." One tester advises that it "takes some getting used to, but I think it's great."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: The Pillow Cube Is the Answer for Side Sleepers
Create the ultimate fluffy, cloud-like sleeping environment with a luxurious down pillow. Parachute's down pillows both performed excellently in our Lab evaluations and were favorites among at-home sleep testers. While most down pillows aren't available in a range of firmnesses, this pillow is available in soft, medium and firm as well as a style specific for side sleepers. We recommend that stomach sleepers choose the soft style, while back and combination sleepers go with medium or firm. Using a pillow suited for your sleeping position is key to reduce snoring as it'll keep your neck properly aligned.
While some down pillows require special care, this pick is entirely machine washable and it held up beautifully to multiple laundering cycles. It kept its shape nicely in our pressure tests and fit perfectly in a standard size pillowcase. We also liked the luxe cotton sateen cover with double stitching around the hem to keep the fill secure and prevent any feathers from poking through.
Tester notes: "It feels luxurious, plush and puffs back up to its shape after sleeping on it," reported one tester. Testers gave high scores for comfort and support with each one saying they would continue to use this pillow. Many praised its softness with one sharing that it feels "absolutely dreamy." One tester even said, "Many other down pillows I have tried in the past would be totally flat by now, and this one is as fluffy as the day I started using it." However there were some testers who wished it was more supportive.
This wedge pillow from Avocado features luxe materials like a GOLS-certified organic latex core and a GOTS-certified cotton cover. Latex has a bouncy feel that maintains its shape even with extensive use. This pillow is available in 7-inch and 10-inch heights and the brand offers matching pillowcases too (sold separately). We are currently testing this pillow in our Lab and with consumer testers at home, but Avocado bedding products have aced many of our previous tests and are featured in our organic mattresses and organic pillows round-ups.
Elevating your head can help reduce snoring, but it shouldn't cause any neck pain. You should still use a supportive neck pillow with a wedge pillow to ensure your neck is properly aligned. Dr. Reisacher also recommends placing "foam wedges underneath the mattress to give a few inches of elevation (not very high) from the waist up so the pillow isn’t bending the neck too much so it becomes uncomfortable."
This best-selling pillow from Tempur-Pedic has been popular for years (and for good reason): The curved design helps keep your neck supported and properly aligned. The solid memory foam is ergonomically designed for side and back sleepers to help prevent any neck pain, which is important for snorers as any discomfort while sleeping can cause more snoring. It has a very firm, supportive feel, so it's not a good choice for someone who prefers a soft, plush pillow.
The foam maintained its shape in our Lab pressure tests. We appreciate that this pick has a removable cover for easy laundering. It's available in three sizes and the brand has a helpful guide to help you determine the best fit for you.
Tester notes: This pillow is ideal for anyone who wants a firm pillow. One tester said, "It fit around my neck and shoulder perfectly," said a tester who especially liked how the pillow contoured to their head and shoulders. Another tester reported, "My neck felt very stable. I usually toss and turn, but this pillow kept me firmly in place the entire night. It felt supportive and I didn’t wake up with any back pain."
Optimizing your sleep environment can be crucial in preventing snoring, so if you are a hot sleeper, a cooling anti-snore pillow can be a game-changer. Purple pillows feature the brand's "Purple Grid" polymer technology that allows airflow throughout the pillow to help keep you cooler. The squishy polymer grid helps provide excellent neck support too. For ultimate cooling, this pillow has a cool-to-the-touch cover that has a silky feel. While the brand's best-selling Harmony Pillow has a latex core, this new launch features a mostly shredded memory foam fill with a bit of fiberfill that's entirely adjustable, so you can find the best pillow height for you, which is crucial to help reduce snoring.
We haven't yet tested this specific style but both the Purple Pillow and Purple Harmony pillow aced our Lab testing with especially high scores for maintaining its shape after weights were applied. The cover is machine washable, but you have to empty the fill first, which can be messy and time consuming. It comes with a small bag to place extra fill, but it won't hold all of it when laundering the cover.
Tester notes: While we haven't yet put this new launch to the test in our Lab, it's already receiving promising feedback from testers. One tester with chronic back pain said, "It's great that this product is entirely adjustable to my preferences, so I can adjust it as I want each night (even if it takes a bit of trial and error to find the most comfortable height)." She also said, "The polymer grid feels totally unique and luxurious."
The Layla pillow features an innovative fill that’s entirely adjustable. The fill is a mix of Kapok, a natural fiber with a fluffy feel, and shredded memory foam for a softer feel that's ideal for stomach and back sleepers. Although sleeping on your back and stomach isn't generally advisable to reduce snoring, some only find back and stomach sleeping comfortable. This pillow helps provide proper spinal alignment for comfier sleep and less snoring.
In our Lab evaluation, this pillow maintained its shape during our pressure tests and fit nicely in a standard-size pillowcase. You can remove the internal fill and wash the cover, but this is a messy process, so we recommend using a pillow protector for less frequent laundering.
Tester notes: This pillow received the highest overall score from testers with each person giving this pillow a perfect score for comfort, support and overall satisfaction. Many testers highlighted that this pillow helped reduce neck soreness. Because of its hybrid fill, one tester said, "I like the softness, how supportive it feels and how it is moldable." Some testers noted that the grey cover showed through light-colored pillowcases though.
Although this isn’t an entire pillow, the Smart Nora Snoring Solution features a pillow insert that will inflate once snoring or deep breathing noises are detected. The motion of the pillow stimulates the throat muscles to allow natural breathing. In our team’s evaluation of anti-snore devices, this pick had the best performance. Coupled with a comfortable pillow, this device can help keep you sleeping quieter and sounder all night. And it's relatively simple to set up.
When speaking with Dr. Reisacher, he noted that some patients found relief from snoring with an adjustable base that elevates the head. Most adjustable bases cost thousands of dollars, so although this is a pricey buy, it's a more affordable alternative to a whole upgraded bed.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab has been testing pillows and bedding for decades, recommending the best buys for your home. In recent years, we have tested over 160 different pillows in our Lab and with hundreds of at-home testers to ensure our top picks are long-lasting and comfortable to sleep on. To evaluate durability, we wash every pillow in the Lab to ensure it stands up to consistent laundering. To evaluate if the pillow maintains its shape after your head rests on it all night, we place weights on the pillow for a set amount of time and then see if it returns to its original shape after the weights are removed. We also tuck each pillow inside a standard size pillowcase to ensure it'll fit properly. At-home testers give us extensive feedback on the pillow's comfort, neck support, temperature regulation and whether they help reduce snoring.
Working alongside snoring experts like William Reisacher M.D., an otolaryngologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, we found the most supportive pillows for your best (and quietest) sleep ever.
When shopping for a new pillow, the amount of styles available can be overwhelming. It can be even more challenging to narrow down the best buys when you are trying to minimize your snoring too. Here are the key points to keep in mind when shopping:
✔️ Fill material: Pillows are available with a wide variety of fills, including down, down alternative fiberfill, solid memory foam, shredded memory foam and latex foam. Down and down alternative pillows have a plush, cloud-like feel, while foams tend to be more supportive. In our testing, many sleepers applaud memory foam for its contouring capabilities that offer excellent neck support. As for which fill material is best to reduce snoring, it really comes down to your own personal preference. We recommend choosing whichever fill you find the most comfortable.
✔️ Loft: The height of your pillow has a huge impact on whether it'll be comfortable and help reduce snoring. Here are the main considerations to help you determine your proper pillow loft.
✔️ Special features: Some pillows have added features like cooling technologies and adjustable fill. A cooling pillow can help a hot sleeper sleep more comfortably, especially pillows with Outlast and 37.5 cooling tech that help keep your body at a stable temperature all night. Pillows with adjustable fill can be particularly effective to reduce snoring as having your neck properly aligned helps prevent snoring in the first place.
✔️ Care instructions: Before purchasing a pillow, we recommend peeking at the care label first. Make sure that the entire pillow or at least the cover is machine washable for easy care so your pillows stay in great condition in the long term.
"Snoring is a complicated phenomenon while also being a very common symptom people have," explains Dr. Reisacher. Snoring occurs when there is an obstruction, something is blocking the airway, or the airway is so relaxed that the sides are coming closer together and moving back and forth, making that loud snore noise.
Yes, it can, but only if it's comfortable to you, advises Dr. Reisacher. To help elevate your head, you can use a wedge pillow, which will elevate your head and chest a few inches to encourage snore-free sleeping. Dr. Reisacher also notes that you can place foam wedges underneath your mattress too. If elevating your head is uncomfortable, then you shouldn't do it as the best way to reduce your snoring is to create as comfortable a sleep environment as possible to encourage deep sleep.
Dr. Reisacher advises that you should seek medical attention "if your partner notices that you are not only snoring but are holding your breath at any point during the night as that could signify that you have sleep apnea." If you are not getting enough sleep and are feeling constantly groggy and exhausted, you should reach out to your doctor as this could also signify other underlying conditions.
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 150 pillows in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab in recent years, and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for over five years at Good Housekeeping. She worked with William Reisacher M.D., an otolaryngologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, to help answer all of your most pressing questions related to anti-snore pillows and how to reduce your snoring in other ways too.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
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