13 Best Pillows to Help Alleviate Neck Pain, According to Experts

Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, we’ve got you covered with these supportive picks.

By Jake SmithFeb 24, 2021RETAILER

If all those hours hunched over your computer or phone have led to annoying neck pain, you’re not alone. About one in three people experience neck pain, and women deal with it more than men, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The good news is, there are things you can do to alleviate the ache—including changing up your pillow. In fact, certain pillows are designed to ease neck pain by correcting your posture and straightening your neck while you sleep. They might even help you stay asleep and wake up feeling more refreshed, too.

How does the right pillow help with neck pain?

You’ve probably woken up with a crick in your neck from sleeping wrong, but 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. “The most common cause of neck pain is postural,” he explains. Activities like sitting at a desk all day can weaken and overwork your neck muscles, leading to tension and aches.

Pillows designed to ease neck pain can help: They gently guide your spine into a straight line from your head to your pelvis, Dr. Patel explains. Normal pillows, on the other hand, are more likely to accentuate spine curvature and keep neck muscles from relaxing.

How to choose the best pillow for neck pain

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, according to the experts.

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.

If you’re not sure which height is best for you, adjustable pillows are especially useful—they allow you to control the height and firmness. The shape, too, should work for your preferred position, offering enough room for your shoulders, for example. And stomach-sleepers should make sure their pillow offers good airflow, since they may be breathing through it.

Don’t worry too much about material. When it comes to neck pain, the material of your pillow doesn’t matter too much. 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 Michael Breus, Ph.D., an author and clinical psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders.

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 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.

Ready to find the best pillow to alleviate your neck pain? Read on—and sweet dreams!1BEST OVERALL PILLOW FOR NECK PAINCoop Home Goods Adjustable Loft PillowAMAZONamazon.com$59.99SHOP NOW

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 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, it’s one of the highest-rated pillows anywhere.
ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW2BEST VALUE PILLOWHokeki Contour PillowAMAZONamazon.com$59.99$29.99 (50% off)SHOP NOW

On a budget? This is a great pillow for neck pain for less than $30. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other models, but it’s supportive, cooling, and great for side-sleepers. “I have arthritis in my neck and it’s hard for me to get comfortable in bed,” one reviewer explains. “I personally am very pleased and highly recommend!”3RAVE REVIEWSLayla Kapok Pillow

laylasleep.com$99.00SHOP NOW

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.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOWhttps://f6e0436239b846d31e5217f7c25782b0.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html4BEST PILLOW FOR SIDE-SLEEPERSTempur-Pedic Ergo Neck PillowAMAZONamazon.com$129.00$80.48 (38% off)SHOP NOW

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. 5BEST PILLOW FOR BACK-SLEEPERSCore Products Tri-Core Cervical PillowAMAZONamazon.com$44.18$39.07 (12% off)SHOP NOW

The trapezoidal divot in this pillow is designed specifically to cradle the head when you’re 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.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW6BEST FOR STOMACH-SLEEPERSSable Down Alternative PillowsAMAZONamazon.com$34.99SHOP NOW

Although they might look extra-plush, these polyester-filled pillows can be thinned out thanks to a zipper on the side. Reviewers love how similar they are to true down without the allergy risk, plus how soft yet supportive they can be. And because they’re not made from solid foam, you’ll be able to breathe right through them.7BEST ADJUSTABLE PILLOWZoey Sleep Side Sleeper PillowAMAZONamazon.com$99.95$79.99 (20% off)SHOP 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. “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.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOWhttps://f6e0436239b846d31e5217f7c25782b0.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html8BEST PILLOW FOR FIRM SUPPORTTherapeutica PillowAMAZONamazon.com$107.55$72.98 (32% off)SHOP NOW

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.”9BEST PILLOW FOR MEDIUM SUPPORTCasper Foam PillowCASPERcasper.com$80.00SHOP NOW

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.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW10BEST PILLOW FOR SOFT SUPPORTBeckham Hotel Collection Gel PillowAMAZONamazon.com$79.99$39.99 (50% off)SHOP NOW

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. “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.”11BEST COOLING PILLOWThe Purple PillowPURPLEpurple.com$109.00SHOP NOW

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.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW12BEST CYLINDRICAL PILLOWSachi Organics Buckwheat Cylinder Neck PillowAMAZONamazon.com$37.00SHOP NOW

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.13BEST NECK PILLOWCrafty World Neck PillowAMAZONamazon.com$19.99SHOP NOW

Neck pillows aren’t just ideal for traveling—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.”