If you’re a snorer (or sleep next to one), chances are you’ve tried it all – nasal strips, different sleeping positions, mouthguards. You may have even invested in an anti-snore pillow, all in search of a good night’s sleep.
With so many products promising relief, though, it can be hard to know what actually makes a difference and what’s just clever marketing. Anti-snore pillows, for example, claim to help by improving alignment and keeping airways more open. But how much of this is true?
According to Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at Mattress Online, it’s not all a marketing gimmick – anti-snore pillows do actually work. “It completely depends on why you are snoring,” she tells IndyBest. “If your snoring is worse in a certain position (normally on your back), then some ‘anti-snoring’ pillows can help by positioning the head better to open your upper airway more. You may get the same results by using an extra pillow; just watch out for increased neck pain.”
However, the sleep expert also notes they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. “Some snoring is completely natural; during sleep, our muscles relax to allow them to recover,” she explains. “The same goes for our upper airway muscles, reducing the space for air to flow through. If this space is too small, that's when we tend to hear snoring. Anything that reduces the space in the upper airway can increase snoring, such as inflammation from allergies and even excessive relaxation in those muscles from alcohol consumption.”
In more serious cases, when the airway becomes fully blocked, snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea, which should always be checked by a medical professional.
So, while anti-snore pillows aren’t a miracle cure, they may help some people sleep more comfortably depending on the cause of their snoring. With that in mind, here are some of the best anti-snore pillows worth trying.
Read more: Best mattresses, reviewed by a team of experts for better sleep
Best anti-snore pillows
Levitex pillow
Dimensions: Small: 60cm x 40cm x 8cm, medium: 60cm x 40cm x 10cm, large: 60cm x 40cm x 12cm, extra large: 60cm x 40cm x 14cm
Filling: Levitex foam
Cover: Nylon
Firmness: Medium-firm
Guarantee: Three years
SnoreLab score: 7 (very good)
Why we love it
- Dramatically improved snoring
- Helped spine alignment
- Suits side sleepers and front sleepers
In our roundup of the best anti-snore pillows, the Levitex pillow was overall the best for reducing snoring. According to reviewer Zoe Griffin, this brand was founded by a sleep posture expert who worked with NHS trusts and social care across the UK. “If you have poor posture during the day, there’s a good chance you’ll have a sleeping position that will stress your spine and cause aching joints and stiff muscles, as well as fatigue the following day, as you won’t feel properly rested,” she writes.
After a few nights of sleep with this pillow, Griffin says it felt “luxurious”.
She adds: “I wondered why I hadn’t thrown out my old pillow years ago. Snoring was definitely reduced, neck and tension pain were relieved, and using the pillow even made an old hip injury feel less painful.”
Buy now £80, Levitex.co.uk
Silentnight anti-snore pillow
Dimensions: 74cm x 48cm x 10cm
Filling: Hollowfibre polyester
Cover: Microfibre
Firmness: Soft to medium
Guarantee: Two years
SnoreLab score: 16 (room for improvement)
Why we love it
- Anti-microbial coating
At only £14, this is a great budget option. Reviewer Zoe Griffin noted that it “reduce[d] snoring frequency and volume by approximately 50 per cent,” noting her SnoreLab score was 16.
“But, this pillow is not claiming to cure your snoring completely,” she adds. “Instead, it can help reduce levels. This is thanks to an ergonomically shaped foam core in the centre of the pillow, which has been designed to support your head and neck, keeping it at just the right position to improve your breathing.”
Buy now £14, Amazon.co.uk
Simba firm hybrid pillow
Dimensions: 70cm x 45cm x 18cm
Filling: Aerocoil micro springs, polyester
Cover: Cotton
Firmness: Customisable
Guarantee: One year
SnoreLab score: 9 (good)
Why we love it
- Adjustable height and firmness
- Suits back and side sleepers
Take note
- Expensive
Simba’s hybrid pillow is almost cult-status level. Reviewer Zoe Griffin notes that if soft pillows are the cause of you’re snoring, but you’re not ready to commit to a firm alternative, this one is a happy medium.
“It has three interchangeable inner pillows,” she writes. “It’s recommended that back sleepers put the two memory foam layers on top and use the firmer part (consisting of aerocoil springs) as the base. However, I prefer to sleep on my side, so I put the spring layer in the middle.”
The memory foam was plush enough that she couldn’t feel it, adding that the support was there as she didn’t suffer any bad snoring episodes while using the pillow.
Buy now £159, Simbasleep.com
Meet the expert
- Hannah Shore: Head of sleep science at Mattress Online
Read more: Best pillows, reviewed
