Lateral loads are a critical consideration in the design of pile foundations for structures vulnerable to wave action, wind, seismic forces, and traffic loads due to the complex interaction between the soil and piles. Therefore, many studies were done on piles in laterally loaded conditions with different soils, such as clays and sand. However, there have been very few experimental studies conducted on stratified soils. This present study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the behavior of individual piles in laboratory conditions subjected to lateral loads both in homogeneous and stratified soil conditions. The study explores the load–deflection response of a single pile installed both in homogeneous soil conditions and stratified soil conditions. The thickness of the top layer is varied relative to the length of the pile as 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75L to assess its impact on pile behavior. The model tests were performed using a test tank measuring 0.7*0.6*0.8 m. The piles were modeled using aluminum rods with a diameter (D) of 16 mm, and different aspect ratios (L/D) of 12, 25, and 40 were considered. The findings indicate that the lateral load capacity of pile is higher in homogeneous murrum soil compared to homogeneous clay soil. Moreover, an assessment is made of piles in stratified soil conditions, and results show that the lateral load capacity of the pile reduces by 10 to 15% when the soil profile changes from homogeneous murrum soil to a layered soil profile of 0.25L thick over clayey soil. Similarly, capacity decreases by 35% and 45% when layer thickness changes from 0.25L to 0.5L and 0.5L to 0.75L, respectively. This study provides a useful benchmark for future numerical modeling studies and improves the understanding of pile foundation behavior in stratified soil deposits.