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If you’re waking up with a crick in your neck, it may be time to find a new pillow.
We updated this article in August 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
We all know that adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, but if you’re waking up and not feeling rested or finding it difficult to get a quality night’s sleep, you may need to reconsider your pillow. This is especially true if you’re someone who experiences neck pain because an uncomfortable night’s sleep is never a good night of sleep. We chatted with experts to determine the best pillow for neck pain that will relieve your discomfort and work for your individual needs.
There’s a pillow to solve all of your sleeping woes these days, everything from pillows for side sleepers and leg elevation pillows, to cooling pillows and lumbar support pillows. But, if you’ve woken up with neck pain from sleeping wrong, it may be time to invest in a good pillow for neck pain. Still, chronic neck pain is more likely to be exacerbated, rather than caused, by sleep habits, says Viral R. Patel, M.D., acting instructor in orthopedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Beyond spending your day at a desk, activities that keep your head in a strained, fixed position like painting, riding a racing bike, or doing the breaststroke can also overuse your neck muscles.
Pillows designed to ease neck pain guide your spine into a straight line from your head to your pelvis, Dr. Patel explains, while standard pillows keep neck muscles from relaxing.
We consulted Dr. Patel, Michael Breus, Ph.D., author and clinical psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, and combed through thousands of user reviewers to find the best options for side, back, and stomach sleepers.
Ready to find the best pillow to alleviate your neck pain? Read on—and sweet dreams!
Coop Home Good’s bestselling pillow has all the features you could want in a pillow: Its height and firmness are adjustable, its memory foam fill is breathable and hypoallergenic, and its removable cover is machine-washable. And with nearly 40,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, it’s one of the highest-rated pillows anywhere. One reviewer wrote, “my neck stayed in correct alignment all night. I have been using this pillow for about two weeks, and I wake up with no neck pain or headache. I would recommend this pillow for anyone that wants a good support pillow.
For people who aren’t quite ready to give up sleeping on a soft pillow, these gel fiber-filled pillows are among the most-loved on Amazon, with over 60,000 perfect 5-star reviews. Plus, they come in under $50 a piece but still provide a cooling gel fiber, plush fill, and a silky cover for the ultimate comfort. “I had some doubts at first because I thought they’d be too soft,” one reviewer explains, but “I would now describe them as soft, yet firm enough to support my head and neck correctly.”
The trapezoidal divot in this pillow is designed specifically to cradle the head when you’re sleeping on your back. The pillow has raised areas with more or less support to find your ultimate comfort and a center that aims to cradle your head when sleeping on your back. “I was introduced to this pillow by my physical therapist and it was just what my neck needed,” writes one reviewer who had spine surgery. “The concept of this pillow is genius.” It’s one of the firmer pillows on this list, but for good reason: It actively straightens your spine.
This pillow is one of Layla’s top sellers, and after testing it out for ourselves, we understand why. It’s soft but supportive, as it contains a unique blend of Kapok (a natural fiber that’s light and airy) and memory foam, so it cradles your neck as you sleep. It contains a convenient zipper on the edge, so you can adjust the stuffing to your liking, too. Best of all, it’s also cooling and breathable, so no worries about night sweats here. One reviewer said, “As a side sleeper, support and cuddle comfort are key and Layla offers both…Just waking up now totally rested and pain-free for the second night in a row and I am so thankful.”
The Elviros may have an unusual-looking design, but this #1 Amazon best-seller is designed to reduce both neck and shoulder pain and has nearly 17,000 5-star reviews. The pillow is designed with a soft, breathable pillowcase, cotton inner cover, and 100% memory foam interior. Plus, the cervical design helps to center the positioning of the head and reduce pressure while you sleep. Customers who swear by this pillow revel in their newfound comfort, with one customer writing, “I’m usually a side sleeper, but with this pillow, I can actually sleep comfortably any way now!”
Zoey Sleep’s curved pillow is completely adjustable; you unzip it and choose the level of foam that best keeps your neck in place overnight. Plus, it frees your shoulders to help achieve your ideal spine alignment when sleeping on your side.“If you sleep on your side or sleep on your back, this is a game changer,” raves one Amazon reviewer, who also appreciates that the curved design allows room for your shoulders.
The distinctive shape of Tempur-Pedic’s pillow is ideal for supporting and straightening the necks of side-sleepers. And its firm, supportive memory foam ensures that your neck won’t bend and twist during the night, Breus says. One reviewer raved, “Amazing, spectacular, best sleep even on this pillow. 10/10 would buy another.”
The strangest-looking pillow on this list is also one of the most dense—but it’s just what you need if you’re really struggling with neck pain. Its distinctive shape cradles and aligns the head and neck, making it perfect for people who sleep on their backs, but occasionally turn to the side. “It takes a bit of getting used to,” one user says, but “I haven’t had pain from sleeping in six months. Do yourself a favor and try it.”
Purple’s pillow is made from the same technology that the brand uses in its mattresses: a plastic mesh with hundreds of cooling airways and the perfect amount of give for back-sleepers. Along with adjustable boosters for side-sleepers and a moisture-wicking cover for warm nights, it’s worth a shot if more traditional pillows don’t work well for you. One reviewer who said her husband uses it for his fused neck said, “This pillow is amazing and he loves it.”
Casper’s signature pillow is plush, but not too soft, offering a happy medium between comfort and support. Constructed from three layers of cooling memory foam—all of which have tiny holes for maximum airflow—the pillow checks all the ergonomic boxes and feels like something you’d want to steal from a hotel room. One reviewer raved, “These pillows cradle your head while providing great support for your neck and shoulders. It doesn’t sleep hot and helps to make a great night’s sleep.”
Cylindrical pillows offer great neck support, and with a 4.5-star average on Amazon, this organic option is one of the best available anywhere. It’s filled with buckwheat, not synthetic materials, which reviewers note can be a touch noisy, but surprisingly soft and supportive. You can even remove some of the filling to adjust for your body and preferred sleeping position. One reviewer said, “I really love this pillow. Every morning I would wake up with very bad pain in my neck between my shoulders because I sleep on my side and I wasn’t getting the support I needed. This pillow is perfect for that support.”
Neck pillows aren’t just ideal for traveling (though they’re great for that, too!)—they can make all the difference for people recovering from surgery or injuries, plus people with chronic neck pain. This memory foam option is a “life saver” for one reviewer who has been recovering from a neck injury and uses it at home and in the car: “I highly recommend this neck pillow.”
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Isotonic Indulgence isn’t as high-grade as our other choices, but it offers firm support and is a solid choice for side sleepers looking for a bit of plush comfort. Beyond the super soft 500 thread count, it also has some great perks like a 15-year warranty and machine washability. “I bought the pillow for my husband, who was having trouble with a stiff neck in the morning. He’s a side sleeper and hasn’t had any trouble since!” says one Bed, Bath, and Beyond customer.
Whether you sleep on your back or your side, there’s a pillow out there that’ll help alleviate your neck pain (although it might take a little while to adjust to a more ergonomic design). Here’s how to choose the right one:
Consider your preferred sleeping position. Your cervical pillow should be tailored to how you sleep. Side-sleepers should choose pillows that are on the taller end, which will keep your neck straight in line with your spine. Back- and stomach-sleepers, meanwhile, should go for shorter pillows, which keep your head from jutting out too far. Height is also important, Dr. Patel explains, because too much or too little elevation can lead to breathing difficulties and sleep interruptions, as confirmed by a 2015 study.
Don’t worry too much about the material. When it comes to neck pain, you can choose almost any material with confidence, Dr. Patel notes, including foam, microfiber, latex, polyester, air, and water. Most are designed with memory foam, a firmer material that provides comfortable neck support and instantly snaps back into shape, says Breus.
There is one caveat, though: Avoid down pillows. “I don’t recommend feather pillows because I’ve seen patients who have had pretty bad experiences with them,” Dr. Patel warns. Most true down pillows, he says, just don’t provide enough support through the night to be worthwhile to people with neck pain. Plus, the fill might trigger people with allergies.
See a doctor if your neck doesn’t feel better. Finding a corrective pillow is a great first step in treating neck pain, but if you’re still struggling with chronic pain in your neck, shoulders, and arms, it’s best to see a doctor. “A pillow is not treatment,” Dr. Patel says. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider, who may refer you to an orthopedist for a full evaluation.