Brooklinen Marlow pillow
Best budget pillow for neck pain
Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow
Best pillow for neck pain in side sleepers
Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Memory Foam pillow
Best pillow for neck pain in stomach sleepers
If you find it difficult to fall and stay asleep without being interrupted by aches, stings or sores, you aren’t alone. Many wake up after a sleepless night with a snore and stiff neck. I, too, often experience neck pain if I’m away from my own bed and not careful about the pillow I choose to sleep on. The right pillow can help you relieve neck pain and get better quality sleep.
Other pillows I tested for neck pain
While these pillows didn’t make my initial list, I still wanted to highlight these four pillows. One of these might work best for you and your neck pain.
Tempur-Pedic Neck pillow: This popular pillow from Tempur-Pedic didn’t live up to the other pillow for neck pain on this list. One, I found it too firm. While pillows that properly support your neck are usually on the firmer side, the Tempur-Pedic Neck pillow is more like sleeping on a rock. While that isn’t for me, it could be for you. It’s curved to mimic the natural shape of your neck, which can be helpful for back and side sleepers.
Cozy Earth Silk pillow: I’m a huge fan of this pillow, but there’s no way to get around the price — which is why this didn’t make my initial list. The Cozy Earth Silk pillow is made of 100% Mulberry silk and has a viscose bamboo shell. For stomach sleepers, this pillow is thin enough to properly support the neck and cradle the head. I love how soft it is, but if you are experiencing a lot of pain, a medium to medium firm pillow may be better.
Boll and Branch Down pillow: Down and down alternative pillows usually aren’t the best for neck pain. These pillows are often softer and flatten during the night. However, I do think that the Boll and Branch Down Pillow sticks to its shape well and still offers support to the head. If you dislike memory foam, this pillow might work better for you.
Avocado Down pillow: Like the Boll and Branch, this pillow from Avocado is also made of down. It comes in three firmness options and is Downmark certified, RDS certified and Climate Neutral certified. I tested the soft option as a stomach and side sleeper, and while I think the loft is perfect, I found it didn’t have enough support for neck pain. However, the medium and firm options may be better suited for back and side sleepers who like ethically sourced down pillows.
How I tested the best pillows for neck pain
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. We are still testing the best pillow for neck pain and will update the article accordingly.
Loft
The word “loft” refers to a pillow’s height. Different sleeping positions require a different pillow height. The goal is to have a pillow that supports the head and neck and keeps your spine in a straight alignment.
Firmness
The firmer the pillow, the more supportive it is. I looked for pillows that had a firm, supportive feel that still relieved tension around the joints. Softer, flat pillows may not be ideal when dealing with neck pain.
Adjustability
Many pillows these days are made to be adjustable because brands know that pillows aren’t a “one size fits all” deal. This way, you can remove filling or inserts to adjust the firmness and loft to your specific needs. It also makes pillows accommodating for different body types — the larger your build, the taller and firmer your pillow should be.
Price
Some people have the budget to invest in an expensive pillow that helps relieve pain, but others need pain relief without spending over $100 on a pillow. Most of these pillows are often on sale, and you can easily snag them for under $100 when they are on discount.
What to consider when choosing the best pillow for neck pain
Sleeping position
Side sleeping has been shown to reduce pain in the neck and spine. Side sleepers can lie with a tall pillow supporting their neck and head, keeping it in a straight line with their spine. Keep a supportive pillow between the knees to maintain the hips in alignment and reduce pressure on your hips and joints. Check out our top picks for the best pillows for side sleepers for even more help with pain relief.
Back sleepers benefit from medium loft pillows that keep the neck or cervical spine in a proper C-shaped curve. Back sleeping is ideal for minimizing pain because it distributes pressure evenly across your body and reduces pressure on the spine.
Stomach sleepers report the greatest amount of neck pain during the day, and stomach sleeping can put added pressure on your back and shoulders. It’s not recommended as a good sleeping position when dealing with pain. That said, you can sleep with a thinner pillow or a pillow with a low loft. You can also try putting a pillow under your hips to promote better spinal alignment if you can’t switch to your side or back.
Pain type
Sleeping with neck pain is most comfortable on the side or back, but your pillow must keep your cervical spine in neutral alignment to avoid increased pressure on the neck. Back sleepers with shoulder pain should sleep with their pillow supporting their shoulders and neck, and another underneath their knees to relieve pressure off the spine.
Sleeping with shoulder pain is most comfortable when you sleep on your back or non-injured shoulder. Back sleeping is recommended because it evenly distributes weight without disturbing either of your shoulders. Still, you can also sleep on your side with a pillow beneath your armpit to relieve pressure.
Sleeping with back pain is most comfortable when you’re on your back, so you ensure straight spine and neck alignment. You can also place a pillow under your knees to relieve more pressure off your spine.
Materials
Certain materials are better at keeping their shape, propping your head up and cradling your neck and shoulders. The best pillow for neck pain is often made of a type of foam and has a good balance between pressure relief and support, with a decent firmness. While down or down alternative isn’t usually the best material for neck pain, if you find a down pillow with ample support and decent design, it might work for you.
Loft
The loft of your pillow is important when you’re dealing with pain. Your pillow’s height should accommodate your specific sleeping position to keep your spine, neck and head in alignment.
Side sleepers benefit from taller, loftier pillows that support their head. Stomach sleepers benefit from thin pillows that cradle the head, and back sleepers need a medium loft that promotes a proper C-shaped curve.
Best pillow materials for neck pain
Memory foam
Memory foam is known for its pressure-relieving properties and is a good choice for support and comfort. This is why several of our picks are made from memory foam. It’ll contour around your shoulders and head while never going flat.
Latex foam
Latex foam is an airy, durable and supportive foam that’s also squishy. Many brands use organic latex foam, making their pillows eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. Latex foam has similar pressure-relieving characteristics to those of memory foam but it’s much bouncier.
Poly foam
Polyurethane foam is cheaper to make than memory or latex foam, meaning these types of pillows are more affordable. It’s more responsive than memory foam and more like traditional soft foam than latex foam. To put things in perspective, comfortable couches are made with polyurethane foam.
Best pillow for neck pain FAQs
Many chiropractors suggest memory or latex foam because of their supportive and pressure-relieving qualities. These foams contour around your curves, keep the neck and head propped up and promote a straight spinal alignment.
Yes, your pillow plays a key part in preventing added pressure to the neck and spine. If your pillow doesn’t accommodate your sleeping position, you risk improper spinal alignment and increased pain.
Pillows on the firmer side of the scale are better for neck pain. They offer ample support and help to keep the neck in the correct position all night. However, firm pillows aren’t comfortable enough for everyone. If you are someone who likes softer pillows but is still experiencing neck pain, try a medium pillow — or one that’s just in the middle of the firmness scale — for both comfort and support.
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