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The 9 Best Pillows For Every Type of Neck Pain
Got neck pain? Try one of these top-rated pillows as a remedy.
For most people, neck pain isn't caused by how they sleep. But the right pillow can keep the time you spend in bed from exacerbating that pain. Neck pain often comes from what happens during the day: Bad posture, sitting for hours on end, hunching over your phone, and generally stressing the muscles that hold up your head. (If this sounds like you, learn how to improve your posture and embrace the best exercises for neck pain relief.) By the time you lay down for the night, you’ve likely already put a heavy burden on your neck.
Persistent neck pain can rob you of much-needed sleep. “Pillows provide optimal support from the shoulders up, and they play an important role in proper spinal alignment and comfort while you’re sleeping,” says Peter Polos, M.D., an associate professor of sleep medicine at Hackensack JFK Medical Center in New Jersey and sleep expert for Sleep Number. “They also help open your airways and reduce snoring at night. If you have neck discomfort and find yourself waking up because of it, you might want to consider trying a new pillow.
The right pillow, whether you’re a side, stomach or back sleeper, keeps your neck in a neutral position, aligned with your spine in a way that doesn’t cause stress. It’s basic ergonomics, really—along with the right mattress, the right pillow supports your head, leaving your muscles relaxed while you sleep.
Finding the right pillow for your neck pain depends on your sleep style. (Don’t worry too much about the material; as long as it provides enough support, it doesn’t matter whether your pillow is memory foam, bamboo, or something else—though down tends to be too fluffy to help.) “There is no one-size-fits-all pillow; it’s important to choose one that is supportive and comfortable for your sleep needs,” Dr. Polos says. “For example, back and side sleepers should look for a pillow that aligns their neck and spine properly, as a pillow that’s too high or too low can cause neck discomfort.”
Below, we’ve selected nine of the best pillows for neck pain to help you make your decision. And just in case you need to complete your bedroom setup, we also pulled together the best sleep products in our 2022 Men's Health Sleep Awards—check those out as you shop for your next snooze.
The Best Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
- Best Overall: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
- Best for Side Sleepers With Neck Pain: Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow
- Best Adjustable Pillow: Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
- Best for Back Sleepers With Neck Pain: Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow
- Best Reviewed: Layla Kapok Pillow
- Best Firm-Support: Therapeutica Pillow
- Best Cooling Pillow: Purple Pillow
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
With its contoured shape and supportive memory foam, the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow promises to keep your neck aligned all night long. It comes in three sizes, customizable to your body shape and sleeping style, and it's completely hypoallergenic.
Read more: Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow
Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow
There’s a lot to like about the Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper Pillow. It’s filled with natural latex and microfiber, which keeps it cool and hypoallergenic, and it’s adjustable for any sleeper. For side sleepers in particular, the unique cut-out shape leaves room for your shoulders to lay in a neutral position, earning it four stars on Amazon, with nearly 800 reviews.
Read more: Best Mattresses
Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
Filled with shredded memory foam, the Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow is adjustable to every sleep style while still being supportive for those with neck pain. It’s hypoallergenic and derived from bamboo, which also keeps it cool overnight.
Read More: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow
Neck-pain relief doesn’t have to break the bank. A basic pillow with the right support can do the trick, and that’s the EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow, which cradles the head for side and back sleepers and can often be had for under $40. It’s contoured to provide support and keep your head from moving into stressful positions throughout the night.
Read more: Best Sleep Gadgets
Belly Sleep Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow
Belly Sleep Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow
As we’ve said before, stomach sleepers have unique needs—namely, thinner pillows that don’t strain the neck during the night. The Belly Sleep Gel Infused Memory Foam Pillow is thin but supportive, with a cooling gel that’ll keep you from overheating while facedown in it. One Amazon reviewer recommends folding it up if you switch positions during the night, as many stomach sleepers do. Overall, it has a 4.5-star rating with almost 800 reviews.
Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow
Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow
Like stomach sleepers, back sleepers can need special consideration when it comes to neck pain. For back sleepers with neck pain, the Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow offers a supportive cradle—almost a neck pillow—that keeps the head stable overnight. It may take time to adjust, but the shape can offer relief for back sleepers when traditional pillows aren’t cutting it.
Read More: Best Sleep Gadgets
Layla Kapok Pillow
Layla Kapok Pillow
Yes, we said fill material doesn’t matter. And that’s generally true—for relieving neck pain, support is what matters most. But Layla’s pillow combines kapok (a light and airy natural fiber) with memory foam to provide adjustable support that’s also extremely breathable, as well as keeping your head cool.
Therapeutica Pillow
Therapeutica Pillow
People with neck pain who like a firmer pillow should consider the many memory foam options, but if you want something even more firm and supportive, the Therapeutica pillow is worth considering. Its unique shape is designed to cradle your head whether you’re a side or back sleeper, and it’s molded foam, which is firmer than memory foam.
Purple The Purple Pillow
Purple’s unique design means a cooler pillow that also offers adjustable support—perfect for people who suffer from neck pain, whether side or stomach-sleepers. If you have neck pain and want a cooling pillow, Purple is a great choice.
Read More: Best Bamboo Sheets
Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and journalist living in Austin, Texas, covering beauty, grooming, style, and culture. Her work has appeared in Very Good Light, BRIDES, Elite Daily, among others.
Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner's World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women's Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler.
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