An anti snoring pillow is designed to improve head and neck placement with the goal of opening up your airways to reduce or stop snoring.
One of the things that can cause snoring or make snoring worse is poor sleep ergonomics, and specifically the position of your head and neck.
A pillow that doesn’t support your head and neck in the right position (aligned to the rest of the body), can restrict your airways and cause or worsen snoring.
Switching to an anti snoring pillow can reduce or eliminate snoring.
In this buying guide we recommend the best anti snoring pillows in the UK, tell you everything you need to know about them, and give you tips on how to choose the right one for your needs.
How Do Anti Snoring Pillows Work?
Anti snoring pillows typically have a unique design that improves head and neck contouring.
Some look like wedges, others have a curved S-like surface and others have an S-shaped core. All these designs work by positioning your head and neck in such a way that there’s no breathing restriction.
This can eliminate mild cases of snoring, or reduce snoring frequency and volume.
An anti snore pillow can also make it easier to switch to sleeping on your side instead of your back. Side sleeping prevents your tongue and palette from falling on the back of your throat and vibrating when you breathe.
Do Anti Snoring Pillows Work?
There’s no snoring aid (see our reviews of sprays and chin straps) that’s guaranteed to work. That’s because there are many causes and factors involved in snoring.
For example, if your snoring is associated with sleep apnoea, an anti snoring pillow is unlikely to stop your snoring.
The same goes if your snoring is triggered by an allergic reaction that causes your nose to clog up. Sleeping on a special pillow won’t stop the allergies and you’ll most likely still snore when your nose gets stuffy.
But if your snoring is caused mostly by your sleeping position, then an anti snoring pillow can help. Most of these pillows are designed to encourage side sleeping, which is the best position for reducing snoring.
An anti snoring pillow can also help if your current pillow is uncomfortable and doesn’t offer enough support for your head and neck.
Key Considerations When Choosing an Anti Snoring Pillow
A. Type and Design of Pillow
The first thing to check is that the pillow is actually designed to reduce snoring. There are several types and designs to look out for.
- Contour pillows – A contour or cervical pillow is designed specifically for improved neck support. It features an S-shaped surface that supports the neck and cradles the head. This keeps your head and neck aligned with your body, and keeps your airways clear.
- Wedge pillow – A wedge pillow allows you to sleep with your upper body inclined. This can reduce snoring and help with other conditions such as acid reflux.
- S core pillows – These pillows look ordinary on the outside, but they feature a unique S-shaped neck-contouring core inside. They offer the same benefits as contour pillows.
An ordinary pillow can also help with snoring. Memory pillows are especially great for snorers. They mold to your head and neck, providing the perfect positioning and alignment to keep you breathing properly.
B. Material
Check the material the pillow filling and cover are made from.
For the filling, memory foam is usually the best material for anti snoring pillows. They provide the best pressure relief and support.
If you prefer a fibre pillow, get one of those with an S-shaped core to ensure proper neck support.
As for the cover, fabrics like bamboo and cotton are the best. They sleep cool and wick away moisture.
But if you don’t sleep hot or have night sweats, a polyester or microfiber cover is good enough.
C. Sleeping Position
Look for an anti snoring pillow that allows you to sleep comfortably on your side. That’s the best sleeping position for snorers.
The good news is that most anti snoring pillows are designed specifically for back and side sleepers.
Best Anti Snoring Pillows: Top 5 Reviews
1. ZenPur Anti Snoring Memory Foam Pillow
If you prefer an ordinary pillow over contour and wedge pillows, we recommend the ZenPur memory foam pillow.
The pillow has a 13cm loft (the height of the pillow), making it a great choice for side and back sleepers. The extra loft also makes it comfortable for people with broad shoulders.
The memory foam moulds to your neck and head, providing the right balance of pressure relief and support. It holds your head and neck in natural alignment with your body, ensuring there are no obstructed airways.
Because memory foam has a tendency to trap heat, the ZenPur pillow comes with a bamboo cover that keeps you cool. This cover is removable and machine washable.
The bamboo fabric is also resistant to mold, dust mites, and bacteria.
What we like about it:
- Great neck support.
- Relieves pressure on neck head.
- Improves neck alignment for easier breathing.
- Guaranteed to last – comes with a 10-year warranty.
2. Silentnight Luxury Quilted Anti-Snore Pillow
If you love the feel of a fibre pillow, we recommend the Silentnight quilted anti-snore pillow.
The microfibre filling provides a pressure-relieving plush feel while a foam core provides support and contouring.
The core is S-shaped, a design that cradles your head while supporting your neck. This improves sleeping position and makes it easier to breathe.
Like other anti snoring pillows, there’s no assurance that the Silentnight pillow will stop you or your partner from snoring. But even if it only reduces snoring, you still get to enjoy a pretty comfortable pillow.
The Silentnight pillow has a medium firmness that is great for side and back sleepers. It’s soft enough to mould around your head and neck, and firm enough that it doesn’t collapse into an unsupportive pancake when you lie on it.
The quilted cover is soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic.
What we like about it:
- Soft but supportive.
- Great for side and back sleepers.
- Improves breathing and reduces snoring.
3. KIZZEN Memory Foam Pillow
If you are looking for a contour pillow to help with snoring, we recommend this memory foam one by Kizzen.
The Kizzen pillow has an S-shaped surface with the raised edge fitting perfectly under your neck and the dip in the middle cradling your head.
The contoured design of the Kizzen pillow is great for sleeping on your side. It keeps both your head and neck in natural alignment with your spine. This eases breathing (thus reducing snoring), and prevents neck and back pain.
The two edges of the pillow have varying heights to cater to sleepers with broad and narrow shoulders. If you have wide shoulders, place the higher edge (10cm high) under your neck. If you have smaller shoulders, the lower edge (8cm high) will be more comfortable.
The memory foam has a medium-firm feel that balances between soft and supportive. You enjoy the feel of the pillow hugging your head and neck, while also getting adequate support.
The soft breathable cover is removable and machine washable. There’s an additional inner cover that keeps dust and other allergens from settling on the memory foam.
What we like about it:
- Contoured design improves support, alignment and breathing.
- Plush yet supportive medium firm feel.
- Two loft options for different shoulder sizes.
- Washable cover.
4. Slumberdown Anti Snore White Pillow
The Slumberdown anti snore pillow uses the S-core design to improve support and breathing for snorers.
It’s a fibrefill pillow with an S-shaped foam core inside that aligns to your head and neck. You get the soft feel of fibre and the support of foam.
The Slumberdown pillow is not for everyone, as the mixed reviews show. Many buyers found it a bit too thin. That’s because it has a softer medium feel, compared to the medium-firm comfort of the other pillows in this guide.
We recommend Slumberdown for people with narrow shoulders. If you have wide shoulders, try one of the above memory foam pillows or the Silentnight quilted pillow.
The Slumberdown pillow is fully machine washable, and it’s safe to tumble dry. So it’s easy to keep it clean and allergen-free.
What we like about it:
- Supportive S-shaped core.
- Pressure-relieving fibre fill.
- Machine washable.
5. Feagar Contour Cervical Memory Foam Pillow
Feagar makes one of the best memory foam contour pillows around. It’s a bit pricier than others, but it’s worth it if you are looking for an anti snoring pillow that’s also super comfortable.
The Feagar cervical pillow is designed to feel comfortable whether you are sleeping on your back or side.
If you are a back sleeper, the tapering wedge on one side of the pillow supports your neck. If you are a side sleeper, there’s a cut out on one side to ease pressure on your shoulder.
The Feagar pillow also includes a depression at the center that holds your neck in both sleeping positions.
While it’s not guaranteed to stop or reduce snoring, the Feagar cervical pillow definitely eases breathing by keeping your airways clear. It also reduces and prevents neck, shoulder, and back pain.
The Feagar pillow comes with a hypoallergenic polyester cover that’s removable and machine washable.
What we like about it:
- Suitable for back and side sleepers.
- Specialized contoured design improves support and alignment.
- Makes breathing easier.
- Removable and washable cover.
