If you sleep on your side, a plane seat is hard. You doze off, your head tips toward the window or the aisle, and the jolt wakes you. Then you turn the other way and it happens again.
A plain U-shaped pillow doesn't fix this. Its sides are soft and low, so your head rolls right over them, and nothing holds your chin when your head drops forward. One size also rarely fits everyone: on a short neck, a tall pillow pushes into your ears.
We compared five travel pillows that come up again and again in side-sleeper roundups. One holds your chin, supports both sides of your head at once, and comes in two adult sizes so you can match it to your neck.
Not sure? Let us pick for you
How do you usually sleep on a plane?
Our pick for you: #1BCOZZY Travel Neck Pillow, Head and Chin Support
Fold it in half and tuck it under your shoulder and cheek; BCOZZY says that way is made for side sleepers and window seats. Its arms also support your chin.
How we compared the travel pillows for side sleepers
Checked whether each listing says the pillow supports your chin, since side sleepers often tip forward and sideways at once
Compared whether the support sits on both sides of your head at once, or on one side at a time so you have to re-wrap it when you turn
Looked at whether each pillow comes in more than one adult size, which matters most for short and long necks
Read published roundups and owner comments on side sleeping, bulk and fit, then compared each product's own Amazon listing and brand page; we did not sleep with these pillows on flights ourselves
Travel pillows for side sleepers compared at a glance
Overlapping arms support the head, neck and chin while you sit upright
Three ways to wear it: arms under the chin, folded for side support, or turned for front and side support; BCOZZY says the folded Shoulder Tuck is made for side sleepers and window seats
Sized by neck: Large fits necks up to 16 inches, X-Large is for 16 inches or more
Bigger to pack than a scarf-style wrap; the listing gives 11 x 8.3 inches, so it usually rides clipped to your bag
A soft pillow with raised sides and two overlapping arms that support your head, neck and chin. You can wear it under your chin, fold it in half for side support, or turn it for front and side support at once. Large fits necks up to 16 inches; X-Large is for bigger necks.
Overlapping arms support the head, neck and chin while you sit upright
Three ways to wear it: arms under the chin, folded for side support, or turned for front and side support; BCOZZY says the folded Shoulder Tuck is made for side sleepers and window seats
Sized by neck: Large fits necks up to 16 inches, X-Large is for 16 inches or more
The entire pillow is machine washable, and BCOZZY lists it at 7.4 oz with a carry bag and a snap loop for your luggage
Bigger to pack than a scarf-style wrap; the listing gives 11 x 8.3 inches, so it usually rides clipped to your bag
A memory foam pillow with tall sides that cradle your head and chin, a shoulder cut-out, and an angled back with a grip texture that keeps it from sliding down the seat. It measures 11.8 x 10.2 x 5.1 inches and comes in one adult size.
Tall sides cradle the head and chin, so there's support whichever way you tip
Memory foam that keeps its shape to hold your head upright on long flights
Patented angled back with a grip texture keeps it from sliding down the seat
Removable, machine-washable velour cover; comes with a stuff sack and earplugs
One adult size, so you can't size it to a shorter or longer neck
The heaviest pillow here at 13.4 oz
The listing doesn't mention a strap to hold it to the seat; the grip back does that job
Similar model shown (Trtl Original). Photo: Json8py, CC BY-SA 4.0
8.4/10
Trtl Pillow Air
Holds your chin up
Choose a size for your neck
A scarf-style wrap with a hidden support inside that you place on either side of your neck or at the front. This version uses breathable cotton, weighs 6.8 oz, and comes in Small (for people 5 ft 7 in and under) and Regular.
Internal support holds your head upright; place it on either side of your neck or at the front
Small size for people 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) and under; Regular for taller travelers
Breathable 100% cotton fabric with dual hook-and-loop closures that stay secure without feeling tight
6.8 oz, machine washable and quick-drying, with a travel bag that attaches to your backpack
Support sits on one side or the front at a time; if you turn to the other side, you re-wrap it
The original Trtl: a fleece wrap with patented internal ribs that you place on the left, right or under your chin, then wrap and fasten. It weighs 4.5 oz, about half the size of a standard U-pillow, and comes in one size.
The lightest pillow here at 4.5 oz, with a slim, flat profile that clips to your backpack
Place the support on the left, the right or under your chin, then choose a snug or loose wrap
Fleece wrap is machine washable once you take out the internal support
Support sits on one side or under the chin at a time, so you re-wrap it to switch sides
One size only; Trtl's own comparison chart lists it without size options
Trtl says bulky over-ear headphones can bump against the rigid support
TRAVELREST All-in-One Travel Pillow with Memory Foam
A long inflatable pillow in a velour cover, with a memory foam disc at the head end. An adjustable strap goes around the seat, a car headrest or your shoulder like a messenger bag, so you can lean on it when there's no wall to lean on.
Strap goes around the airplane seat, a car headrest or your shoulder, so it stays put in the aisle or middle seat
Memory foam disc at the head end, so your face rests on foam and fabric, not air
Set your own firmness with a few breaths; rolls up to 8 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches
Velour cover is machine washable once the foam disc is out
The listing doesn't mention chin support
Built to lean on or hug, not to wrap around your neck, so it supports one side of your head
One size, sized for adults and teens
The foam disc isn't washable, and Travelrest says cabin pressure can make it feel softer in flight
The BCOZZY is a soft, flexible pillow with raised sides, a flat back and two arms that overlap at the front. That shape lets you wear it three ways, and one of them, folded in half and tucked under your cheek, is the way BCOZZY recommends for side sleepers in a window seat.
Holds your chin when your head drops forward as well as sideways
Ways to wear it
Under the chin, folded for side support, or turned for front and side support
Pick the one that matches your seat and the side you sleep on
Sizes
Large for necks up to 16 inches; X-Large for 16 inches or more
A pillow that fits your neck stays in place and doesn't crowd your ears
Care and carry
Entire pillow machine washable; 7.4 oz per BCOZZY; carry bag and snap loop
Easy to clean after a trip and clips to your luggage
1. Your chin has somewhere to rest
Side sleepers rarely tip only sideways; the head drops forward too. The BCOZZY's overlapping arms sit under your chin as well as at your neck, so a nod doesn't wake you.
2. Both sides at once, or folded for the window
Its raised sides support you whichever way you turn, and you can fold it in half and tuck it between your shoulder and cheek when you lean on the window. No re-wrapping when you switch sides.
3. A size for your neck
Large fits necks up to 16 inches and X-Large fits bigger ones, so the pillow sits where it should instead of pushing into your ears or leaving a gap.
Who it's for
Window-seat side sleepers who want something between their cheek and the wall
Travelers whose head drops forward and sideways when they doze
Anyone who switches sides during a flight and doesn't want to re-wrap a pillow
The honest trade-off
Bigger to pack than a scarf-style wrap; the listing gives 11 x 8.3 inches, so it usually rides clipped to your bag
How it did on what we compared
Holds your chin up
Support on both sides at once
Choose a size for your neck
Bottom line
If you sleep on your side and want one pillow that holds your chin and both sides of your head, the BCOZZY is the one to pack. Pick the Trtl Pillow Air instead if you're 5 ft 7 in or shorter and want a slimmer wrap.
What to look for in travel pillows for side sleepers
Look for chin support
When you fall asleep sitting up, your head usually tips forward and to the side. A pillow that only has soft sides lets your chin drop. Arms that meet under the chin, or a support you can place at the front, keep it up.
Decide if you switch sides
Scarf-style wraps like the Trtl support one side at a time, which is great if you always lean the same way. If you turn from the window to the aisle during the night, a pillow with raised sides on both sides saves you from re-wrapping.
Match the size to your neck
A pillow that's too tall pushes into your ears; one that's too short leaves your head to fall. BCOZZY sizes by neck measurement and Trtl's Air comes in a Small for people 5 ft 7 in and under.
Think about your seat
At the window you can lean on the wall, so a folded pillow between your cheek and the wall works well. In the aisle or middle seat there's nothing to lean on, which is where a pillow that straps to the seat helps.
Questions about travel pillows for side sleepers
What kind of travel pillow is best for side sleepers?
One that holds your chin and supports the side you lean on. Plain U-shaped pillows have low, soft sides that your head rolls over. Look for raised sides, a support you can place at the side or front, or a pillow you can fold between your shoulder and cheek.
What's the best travel pillow for a short neck?
One that comes in a smaller size or sits low. The Trtl Pillow Air has a Small size for people 5 ft 7 in and under, and the BCOZZY is sized by neck measurement. Tall, fixed pillows can push up into your ears if your neck is short.
Is a window seat better for side sleepers?
Usually, yes. You can lean on the wall and nobody climbs over you. BCOZZY suggests folding its pillow and tucking it under your shoulder and cheek for the window seat. In the aisle or middle, a pillow that straps to the seat, like the Travelrest All-in-One, gives you something to lean on.
Can I wash a travel pillow?
Most of these, yes. The whole BCOZZY goes in the machine. The Trtl wraps wash once you take out the internal support. The Travelrest pillows have removable covers that you wash; the foam inside doesn't go in the machine.
Bottom line: the best travel pillows for side sleepers
For side sleepers, the BCOZZY Travel Neck Pillow is the one to buy: it holds your chin, supports both sides of your head at once, and comes in sizes for your neck. Choose the Travelrest Nest for memory foam with tall sides, the Trtl Pillow Air if you're 5 ft 7 in or shorter, the Trtl Original for the lightest pack, and the Travelrest All-in-One for the aisle or middle seat.
How to Sleep on a Plane as a Side Sleeper — Side sleepers can't lie down on a plane, but they can lean. Which seat to pick, how to set up a pillow for the side you lean on, and what to do in the aisle.
How to Actually Sleep on a Plane — Practical tips for sleeping on long flights in economy, from choosing a seat and timing your rest to the small kit that blocks light, noise and the head drop.
