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If you’ve ever woken up with a stiff or sore neck and thought, “Man, I have to get a better pillow,” you’re not alone (trust me). Sleeping on a pillow that doesn’t offer you the right kind of support can not only dampen the quality of your slumber, but can also affect your general well-being on a day-to-day basis. But don’t worry — Sleepopolis is here to help!
With guidance from the Sleepopolis Expert Network, I rounded up 10 pillows designed to alleviate neck pain in sleepers of all styles and positions. Keep reading to check out my top pillow picks, and learn a bit more about keeping healthy sleep posture.
Disclaimer: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice or treatment from your physician or medical professional. This review is meant to be an informative guide of options for those looking to maintain healthy posture while they sleep. User experiences and needs will vary. If you experience lasting pain, soreness, or discomfort while sleeping, it’s always a good idea to seek out a healthcare professional in person.
The Best Pillows for Neck Pain
Best Overall
Saatva Latex Pillow
Combo sleepers who want to make sure their pillow supports them in every position should definitely dive into the Saatva pillow.
It’s lofty enough for side sleeping, compressible enough for stomach sleeping, and keeps you comfortably cradled when you’re on your back. It’s this incredible versatility, plus its luxe feel, that makes the Saatva pillow our editor’s pick.
It features a unique pillow-in-pillow design wherein a fluffy down-alternative cover envelopes a Talalay latex core. This combination strikes a cozy balance between soft and supportive, as the outer pillow offers a plush feel, while the inner core adds a buoyant boost. Plus, you have the option to use the pillow as is, or remove the middle insert!
If you primarily sleep on your back and side, we suggest using this pillow exactly as it comes. However, stomach sleepers looking to reduce the loft and firmness can easily unzip the pillow, and remove the latex core for a softer feel. For all the details on this great combo sleeping accessory, read our full Saatva pillow review!
Price: $$$, with a 45-day trial period.
Perfect For: Combo sleepers looking for an all-position pillow with an adjustable loft.
A fluffable mix of down-alternative and Talalay latex makes this pillow cozy, cool, and great for combo sleepers!
Best Memory Foam Pillow
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow
If you’re a memory foam fan who sleeps hot, this pillow is for you.
Filled with one thick piece of Tempur-Pedic’s memory foam, the Tempur-Cloud offers a moldable feel, and a super slow response to pressure. Those who like to sink deeply into their pillow are likely to be most compatible with this one. Since it has a lower profile, we think it’s best for back and stomach sleepers.
The memory foam material is not only wonderful for pressure relief, but it also compresses easily. If you travel frequently, then you should be able to easily roll this pillow up and store it in a bag or suitcase. For added convenience, the cover is removable and machine washable.
That said, those who love memory foam but don’t want a cooling pillow should check out our full review of Tempur-Pedic pillows (this brand offers quite a few options!). But if you’re a side sleeper looking for a cool and soothing memory foam pillow, we heartily suggest you give this one a try.
Price: $$, a little pricier than some of the others in this roundup — but the fact that it’s backed by a 5-year warranty inspires confidence that this brand proudly stands behind its product.
Perfect For: The side sleeper who runs hot and loves the feel of memory foam!
The TEMPUR-Cloud pillow provides the great body contouring memory foam feel that Tempur-Pedic is known for and is a great choice for the back sleepers out there!
Best Down Pillow
Brooklinen Down Pillow
Stuffed full of Canadian down feathers, this Brooklinen Down pillow features a high fill power of 600. When shopping for down products, it’s important to note that fill power determines how fluffy and lofty it’ll be (and 600 means very fluffy). Sleepers in the market for big ol’ feather pillows are sure to enjoy this one.
That said, this pillow’s tall five inch profile is easily compressed into a low loft of two inches, as natural down is a very soft material. In fact, this pillow has a malleable quality that lets you push, press, and fold it to meet your unique needs.
Meanwhile, sleepers with allergies might like to know that this down has been treated with Ultra Fresh Antibacterial Additives, an OEKO-TEX technology used to make it hypoallergenic. So if you tend to avoid real down because of sensitive skin or allergies, just remember that this pillow was crafted to be extra resistant to mold and mildew.
Learn everything there is to know about this pillow in our full Brooklinen Down pillow review.
Price: $$, which is a great value for a natural down pillow. Plus, Brooklinen offers a 365-day return policy and a lifetime warranty.
Perfect For: Sleepers of all styles looking for a soft and lofty pillow filled with 100 percent real down!
Brooklinen’s Down pillow provides plush and fluffy comfort for those interested in ethically sourced down! Enjoy 10 percent off your order with code SLEEPOPOLIS10!
Best Organic Pillow
Avocado Green Pillow
Eco-friendly sleepers looking to alleviate neck pain with an all-natural pillow are going to be most compatible with the Avocado Green.
From the cotton cover fabric to the internal fill, this entire pillow is made from organic materials. It’s filled with a blend of shredded Dunlop latex and a sustainable tree fiber called Kapok, which combine to offer a medium-firm feel. Additionally, it has a quick response to pressure that lets the sleeper rest on top of the pillow rather than sink into the material.
One of our favorite things about this pillow is that it’s adjustable, which allows sleepers of all styles to find their perfect loft. If you find this pillow to be too lofty or firm, simply unzip the pillow and remove the stuffing until you’re satisfied! That said, we suggest stomach sleepers remove some fill to reduce the loft before snoozing with this pillow.
This pillow is traditionally shaped, which means you’re more than welcome to dress it with a pillowcase. But its organic cotton cover fabric is hypoallergenic, soft, and easily machine washable (so feel free to enjoy it without a pillowcase!).
For the full scoop on this pillow, be sure to check out our full Avocado pillow review.
Price: $$, with a generous 100-night trial and a 1-year warranty.
Perfect For: The eco-friendly sleeper looking for a supportive pillow with an adjustable design!
Made with all-natural latex, the Avocado pillow is both eco-conscious and supportive!
Best Pillow for Combo Sleepers With Neck Pain
Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling
Calling all combo sleepers! If you alternate sleep positions, Brooklyn Bedding may have the ideal pillow for you. Their Luxury Cooling Pillow cradles the head and keeps it in line with your shoulders while you’re on your side, and comfortably conforms to the neck and head while you’re on your back, providing just the right amount of lift. Sleepers who alternate between their back and side may want to consider a higher loft version of this pillow, while those who alternate between their stomach and back may want to consider a lower loft.
Plus, as the name suggests, this pillow is great for anyone looking for a cool night’s sleep all the way through — no flipping required.
Check out our full review of the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow here!
Price: $$$, with a 30-day trial period and a 3-year warranty.
Perfect For: Combo sleepers looking for a comfortable and cool night’s sleep.
This pillow cradles you while also giving a slight lift, allowing combination sleepers to switch positions easily while they sleep.
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers With Neck Pain
Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper
The Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow was designed just for side sleepers’ unique needs. Its custom U-shape is built specifically to support side sleepers’ heads and necks while reducing shoulder pain.
And, in addition to a supportive and springy feel the fill is adjustable, so if you aren’t a fan of the thicker center, you can pull out some of the fill and adjust it to your liking.
Check out our full review of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow here!
Price: $$$, with a 45-day trial period.
Perfect For: Side sleepers looking for great neck support or sleepers looking for a hypoallergenic pillow — the side sleeper is antimicrobial, mildew-proof, and dust mite-resistant.
This uniquely shaped pillow from Eli & Elm was designed specifically with side sleepers in mind, and should offer them plenty of contouring and pressure relief.
Best Luxury Pillow for Neck Pain
Cozy Earth Silk
While the luxurious Mulberry silk filling of the Cozy Earth Silk pillow isn’t adjustable, it’s plush and moldable, so it easily conforms to your neck and head. This goes a long way toward preventing or addressing neck pain. Not to mention, it just feels oh so soft and cozy.
This pillow comes equipped with several other luxurious touches, too, including a shell made from 100 percent viscose. This material is derived from bamboo, and is environmentally friendly.
Full review coming soon!
Price: $$$, with a 45-day trial period.
Perfect For: Anyone who wants a plush, luxurious sleeping experience.
Filled with luxurious Mulberry silk, this pillow from Cozy Earth molds to your neck and head for an ultra-plush sleeping experience.
Best Pillow for Back Sleepers With Neck Pain
Coop Home Goods Eden
Packed with shredded memory foam, the Coop Home Goods Eden is a medium-firm pillow with an adjustable fill. That means sleepers can add or subtract filling to their liking.
When it comes to addressing neck pain, we found that this pillow was especially good for back sleepers. Its medium firmness creates a balanced feel that should keep their spine and neck properly aligned, which can help prevent soreness. We think side sleepers will be comfortable on the Eden as well. While they tend to need a higher loft than back sleepers, they can easily add as much filling as they want.
Another great feature of this pillow is its cooling capability. It has a cover made of a soft and breathable material called Lulltra. The memory foam filling is also infused with gel to assist with temperature regulation.
Check out our full review of the Coop Home Goods Eden pillow here!
Price: $$$, with a 100-day trial period.
Perfect For: Back sleepers, side sleepers, and hot sleepers.
This adjustable pillow has a medium firmness and feel that should help back sleepers keep a proper spinal alignment.
Best Pillow for Shoulder and Neck Pain
Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow
Not only was this pillow designed for side sleepers — it was also designed to address neck pain.
First, the fill: the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow comes stuffed with European white down. This material is soft and luxurious, and creates a medium loft that should give you enough support at the neck and shoulders to keep the spine in a neutral alignment. This is crucial for preventing neck pain.
The pillow also has a gusset that allows air and pressure to escape its structure, thus lessening the strain in your shoulders and neck.
Price: $$$
Perfect For: Side sleepers who are experiencing neck and shoulder pain.
Filled with luxurious European white down, this pillow has enough plushness and support to help you prevent neck pain.
Choosing The Right Pillow for Neck Pain
Even if you don’t deal with chronic neck pain, choosing the right pillow is crucial to maintaining healthy posture while you sleep. If you’re pretty sure your pillow is responsible for that crick in your neck, it’s time to upgrade your sleep accessories.
I’ve chosen six different pillows designed to meet the needs of a wide range of sleepers, and they all have one very important thing in common — they help you maintain a neutral spine. Now, when it comes to alleviating neck pain, neutral spine alignment is the name of the game. Essentially, this means your head, neck, and spine are all resting in line with their natural curvature, and are not craned or strained in any way. (1)
During the course of my research, I spoke with physical therapist Dr. Keith Poorbaugh of the Sleepopolis Expert Network. He told me that if your head or neck is thrown out of neutral alignment with your spine, you’re not only at greater risk of neck pain, but it’s likely to put pressure on your shoulder and lower lumbar region as well.
Dr. Poorbaugh reminded me that since every body is built differently, the same pillow and position is not going to work for every sleeper. However, he did offer some general tips for finding healthy spine alignment:
- Position — Choose a sleeping position that supports a neutral spine. This could be represented by ears in line with shoulders, or chin in line with sternum. The primary purpose of this is to support the natural C curve of the cervical spine, which will often require pillows to be fluffed up to support the mid-cervical spine.
- Stomach Sleeping — If you can, choose a side-lying position or the supine position. Avoid the prone position, as it tends to position the upper cervical spine at end-range rotation or extension.
- Every Body is Different — Neck pain problems can range from articular (joint-related), myofascial (strains, sprains, trigger points), neurogenic (nerve irritation (tension/compression) or somatosensory (loss of positional awareness). Proper pillow support isn’t the same for everybody.
- Pillow Maintenance — After 6-8 months, check in to see if your pillow is still offering you proper support. If not, replace it as soon as possible.
With neutral spine alignment in mind, let’s dig into this pillow roundup, shall we?
Final Thoughts
Well, there ya have it, folks. Those are my top pillow picks for sleepers looking to alleviate neck pain. But remember: it would be a shame for your pillow’s hard work to go to waste because you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress. So, if you think it’s time for an upgrade, check out our guide to the best mattresses.
In the meantime, let’s recap the most important points when it comes to alleviating neck pain:
- Neutral Spine Alignment — When you’re lying in bed, you should never feel like your head is being forced out of neutral alignment with your spine. Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, and your chin should be in line with your sternum.
- Loft & Support — Different sleeping positions require different lofts and levels of firmness. Side sleepers are most compatible with a lofty build and medium firm to firm level of support. Back sleepers are best suited to a medium loft and soft-medium firmness.
- Stomach Sleepers — Stomach sleepers need to make sure their pillows are low in loft and soft in feel. The lower the loft, the less likely it is that the head will be craned upward, out of alignment with the spine.
- Adjustability — Being able to adjust the level of loft and support is a good way to customize the support that’s best suited to your specific needs/body type.