Chronic neck pain is a common problem for all kinds of sleepers. No matter which sleeping position you prefer, it’s possible to strain your neck muscles, especially if you’re using the wrong pillow. The right pillow helps with sleeping posture, neck support, and overall comfort for a good night’s sleep.
If you tend to wake up with neck pain or stiffness, a new pillow could make all the difference. Our top ten picks include a wide variety of pillows, from traditional pillows made from memory foam or down, to orthopedic pillows specifically designed for neck support. Find out which one is right for you. Check out the best memory foam pillows for more recommendations.
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More of a visual person? Watch our video review for a closer look at each model.
The Layla pillow combines all-natural Kapok fibers with shredded memory foam for a feel that’s plush yet supportive. With an adjustable fill level and cooling copper fibers, the Layla Pillow sleeps temperature neutral and suits all sleeping positions. The one downside is that this pillow is on the pricier side.
This cooling pillow is made with open-cell memory foam and natural Kapok yarns which facilitate more airflow than your average foam pillow. It makes for a soft, moldable pillow that responds to you without losing shape. The cover includes a breathable fabric with temperature-regulating copper fibers woven in to evenly distribute heat. This prevents you from having to flip the pillow in the middle of the night to find the cool side.
Also, the pillow is adjustable, meaning you can add or remove the shredded foam fill to get your desired loft level. That adjustability makes it a good option for sleepers of all sizes and preferences.
Reason to Buy: The ability to adjust the height of the Layla Pillow makes it an ideal option for neck pain relief. It combines the airy plushness of Kapok fibers with the contouring support of shredded memory foam. If you’re looking for a plush yet supportive pillow that sleeps cool and may help relieve neck pain, the Layla Pillow could be right for you.
Read our full Layla Kapok pillow review.
The Saatva pillow features a pillow-on-pillow design that enables users to easily adjust the height to their needs, leading to a great night’s sleep.
The Saatva Pillow features three luxurious layers. Fluffy organic cotton fill (with a similar plush airiness as down) surrounds the center of natural, shredded Talalay latex, and it’s all held together with an organic cotton cover. The latex core is naturally buoyant and pressure relieving. A special washing process removes allergy-causing proteins, making it hypoallergenic too.
The latex also lends durability to the pillow, which has the dreamy-soft, signature feel of a luxury pillow from a five-star hotel. Saatva offers its latex pillow in two sizes. Plus, the soft, breathable cover can be unzipped and machine washed.
Reason to Buy: If you want the plush comfort of a hotel pillow in your own bed, then we recommend buying the Saatva Pillow for $165. Shredded latex is naturally hypoallergenic, cotton is breathable and cool, and the layered construction offers ideal neck support.
Read our full Saatva Latex pillow review.
This uniquely shaped pillow is very firm and supports your head and neck. Can this support pillow alleviate your neck pain? Find out below!
The Tri-Core Cervical Pillow is specifically designed to reduce neck and upper back pain, thanks to its cervical design. The sides of the pillow are filled with soft polyester fluff, but the center of the pillow has a trapezoid indentation to cradle your head and support your neck and cervical spine.
Strict side and back sleepers will find it helps reduce neck pain and minimizes the chances of morning headaches since the pillow’s design helps ensure neutral alignment all night. Two options for firmness are a nice perk, and so is the price tag.
Reason to Buy: If your main concern when it comes to buying a new pillow is finding one that will keep you from waking up with a stiff neck, the Tri-Core Cervical Pillow is a great option. It’s available for under $50, and it offers two different levels of neck support. One side of the pillow is extra firm, and the other side is a bit softer, so you can choose the side that works for you.
Read our full Tri-Core Cervical pillow review.
Down pillows have a luxuriously comfortable feel to them that many people enjoy, but they also tend to sleep hot. This Puredown pillow has a low loft that’s great for stomach sleepers and some back sleepers, but could pose a real problem for side sleepers who need extra support on the head and neck.
The Puredown Pillow is great for anyone who loves the airy softness of a traditional down pillow. Puredown makes several different pillows with varying levels of breathability and cover material, but they are all soft, supportive, and high-quality feather pillows.
The down-and-feather blend has a medium to firm level of support, which accommodates back, stomach, and side sleepers. Plus, Puredown uses ethically-sourced down that follows the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). There are three sizes available, and each pillow is finished with a quilted diamond lattice for luxury and durability.
Reason to Buy: Puredown pillows are a good choice for those who want a traditional down pillow that comes in a wide variety of comfort preferences and prices. Puredown pillows range from $25 to $122, often for a set of two, so there’s a pillow for almost any budget.
Read our full Puredown pillow review.
The original Purple pillow is made with the same stretchy, supportive Hyper-Elastic Polymer Smart Comfort Grid as the Purple mattress. We think back sleepers will love it, larger stomach sleepers will like it, and side sleepers will need to add the included boosters to make it more comfortable.
The Purple Pillow is unique because it isn’t made with memory foam, down, or any other traditional pillow material. Instead, core products include Purple’s proprietary GelFlex Grid, a hyperelastic polymer grid that supports your neck while also allowing for as much airflow as possible.
The material is also hypoallergenic, nontoxic, and impressively durable. While it cradles your head and neck, it will bounce right back to maintain its shape night after night. The pillow features three inches of GelFlex Grid and comes with two boosters, so sleepers can personalize the height for customized comfort.
Reason to Buy: The Purple Pillow is one of the pricier options on this list, coming in at $134, but many people find that the additional cost is worth the comfortable support and breathability. You’ve never slept on this type of pillow before, and it could make all the difference for your neck pain.
Read our full Purple pillow review.
The Tempur-Neck by Tempur-Pedic is designed for back and side sleepers who need a pillow that will provide exceptional support for optimal neck pain relief.
The Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow is made from extra-firm memory foam, shaped with a curve at the base to support that natural curve of your neck. This contoured memory foam pillow is firm enough to take the strain off your neck muscles so they can relax, but still soft enough to contour comfortably to your body.
It’s available in three sizes–small, medium, and large–to fit different body types and sleeping preferences. A removable knit cover on the pillow is hypoallergenic and machine washable. Bonus–the Tempur-Neck pillow also comes with a five-year warranty.
Reason to Buy: Unlike many of the other traditional sleeping pillows on this list, the Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow is specifically made for ideal neck support. Price ranges from $119 for the small neck pillow to $159 for the large one.
Read our full Tempur-Neck pillow review.
The Belly Sleep pillow is exactly as advertised—a slim pillow for stomach sleepers. The Belly Sleep pillow has a thin-profile pillow made of memory foam strong enough to lift your head enough, but not too much.
Read Full ReviewThe Belly Sleeper Pillow is specifically designed to relieve neck pain for stomach sleepers. It’s made with gel-infused memory foam that helps prevent overheating. Unlike most pillows, the Belly Sleeper is quite thin, with curved edges to prevent unnecessary neck strain.
Stomach sleepers need a lower pillow to keep the cervical spine aligned, and this slim memory foam pillow does just that, which helps reduce pressure to minimize pain in the neck and upper back. The Belly Sleeper Pillow also comes with a moisture-wicking cover that can be removed for machine washing.
Reason to Buy: If you’re a stomach sleeper experiencing neck pain, the Belly Sleeper Pillow could make a huge difference in your sleep quality. For $40, you can get the neck support you need while sleeping on your stomach.
Read our full Belly Sleep pillow review.
The irony of the pillow market is that even the softest of pillows can exacerbate neck pain in some individuals if they’re not a good fit. This highlights the importance of understanding the loft and support levels that work best for achieving a neutral spine alignment in your preferred sleeping position. For example, a pillow that’s too thin will encourage the head to fall back, and a pillow that’s too thick will bring the chin too close to the sternum.
When you’re lying in bed, you should never feel like your head is being forced too far upward or extended too far backward. In the ideal position, your ears should be in line with your shoulders and your chin should be in line with your sternum.
A new pillow could go a long way toward improving your neck pain, but it might not be the only solution you need.
One way to prevent neck pain from developing throughout the day is to check in on your posture, especially if you sit at a desk most of the day. Make sure you sit with your feet flat on the floor, your back flat against the back of your chair, and your computer monitor at eye level. If you tend to slouch, set a periodic reminder on your phone to help you remember to sit up straight.
If your pain isn’t limited to your neck, you might want to start looking at new mattresses as well. Shoulder pain, back pain, and hip pain can go hand in hand with neck pain caused by a mattress that isn’t well-suited to your sleep needs. If you’re experiencing chronic pain, in your neck or elsewhere, a new mattress could do you a world of good.
Some pillows help reduce neck pain simply because they keep your spine properly aligned at night, but some pillows are specifically designed for neck pain relief. Check out the types of pillows for neck pain that you can choose from.
Pillows that are labeled “ergonomic,” “orthopedic,” or “chiropractic” typically do the same thing: They keep your spine properly aligned while you sleep. “Ergonomic” means something is designed for comfort, while “orthopedic” and “chiropractic” both mean something is designed for proper spine, bone, or muscle care.
Some pillows are specifically designed for side sleepers because side sleeping presents a unique problem for proper neck alignment. When you sleep on your side, you can get a crick in your neck from poor spinal alignment. Side-sleeper pillows provide the support you need to help prevent neck pain.
Cervical neck pillows, or cervical support pillows, are pillows designed with an indentation in the center. Your head rests in the indentation, and the raised parts of the pillow surrounding it provide the support your neck needs. They typically don’t work for stomach sleepers, but for side and back sleepers, they can make a big difference when it comes to preventing neck pain.
Regardless of sleeping position, proper spinal alignment is the key to relieving neck pain throughout the night. Here’s a brief guide to the best pillow loft and support levels for achieving a neutral spine by sleeping position:
Once you start using a pillow for neck pain, you won’t want to leave it at home when you travel. Make sure it’s reasonably easy to bring your pillow with you when you go out of town. Memory foam pillows are great for this because they compress easily, which allows them to be stored in a suitcase without taking up all the space.
If you sleep hot, you don’t want a pillow that traps heat. Look for breathable materials like latex and cooling gel memory foam, with a polyester or 100 percent cotton cover.
Our pillows collect a lot of dirt and bacteria over time, so it’s important that they are at least somewhat washable. Even if your pillow can’t be washed completely, make sure it at least has a washable cover. Allergy sufferers should wash their pillowcases frequently as well.
The best firmness for a pillow is one that comfortably supports your head to ensure proper alignment. A soft pillow may lack the support needed to keep the head properly elevated, while a firm pillow could be so hard it pushes the head up too high. Sleepers need a pillow firmness and loft that will best match their body type and sleep style.
Properly supporting the neck and head while you sleep can reduce pressure pain and tension that might otherwise lead to headaches. In that sense, a pillow designed for proper cervical alignment can help prevent headaches. For more information on sleeping with headaches, check out our article on sleeping with a migraine.
Your pillow shouldn’t be causing you neck pain. There are many amazing pillows out there that are specifically designed to help you get a good night’s sleep and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed instead of achy. If you’re a stomach sleeper, the Belly Sleeper Pillow is a great option for pain relief, and we especially like the Layla Kapok Pillow for hot sleepers trying to stay cool and relieve neck pain at the same time.
