Avocado’s pillow is one of our top picks for pain relief. See which other brands made our list of best pillows for neck pain, with some insight from two of our editors.
A quick look at the best pillows for neck pain
- Best pillow for side sleepers: Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper Pillow | Skip to review
- Best organic pillow for neck pain: Avocado Green Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for head pain relief: Nature’s Guest Cervical Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for breathability: Layla Kapok Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for firm support: EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for medium support: Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for soft support: DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow | Skip to review
- Best pillow for stomach sleepers: The Belly Sleep Pillow | Skip to review
- Best for petite folks: Blissbury Thin Memory Foam Pillow | Skip to review
- Most natural materials: Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow | Skip to review
Do you wake up each morning with pain in your neck? You’re not alone: Neck pain is a very commonTrusted Source condition that can interfere with daily life.
While it tends to have the most effects in middle age, neck pain can affect anyone. Pain following injury may go away in a few days or weeks, but some peopleTrusted Source may have long-term issues.
Your sleeping position and pillow may play a role in long lasting pain. For that reason, experts recommend choosing a pillow that helps support your neck and its natural curve.
Healthline’s picks of the best pillows for neck pain
Best pillow for side sleepers
Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper Pillow
4.3 (936+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: queen
- Cover material: cotton blend
- Machine washable: no
- Price: $99.49
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper Pillow is filled with a blend of organic latex and down alternative microfiber that is both antimicrobial and hypoallergenic.
The pillow’s shape is unique in that it’s a narrow rectangle with a curve on one side. This is meant to mimic how many side sleepers scrunch standard pillows to support their neck.
There are no petroleum-based chemicals or strong odors. As with other pillows on our list, you can add or take away filling for adjustable support.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best organic pillow for neck pain
Avocado Green Pillow
4.5 (5.8k+) from Avocado
- Available sizes: standard, queen, king
- Cover material: cotton
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $109.00
Use code “SAVE10” for 10% off.
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
This vegan pillow is handmade in the United States. The all-natural materials are Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.
What’s nice about this pillow is that it’s customizable. You can add or remove stuffing until it reaches the right comfort level for your neck.
Some reviewers say that with all the stuffing, it’s too lofty and causes neck pain. But others say that after removing some stuffing, it decreased their neck pain.
What our tester says
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for head pain relief
Nature’s Guest Cervical Pillow
3.9 (2.8k+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: standard, queen
- Cover material: cotton
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $54.99
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The Nature’s Guest Cervical Support Pillow is especially useful for people who move from their side to their back while sleeping.
The sides of the pillow are higher than the middle to provide neck support. The pillow itself is adjustable, so you can set the degree of firmness by removing or adding stuffing.
The cotton cover is hypoallergenic, and the filling is microfiber. No flame retardants or other harmful chemicals are used in the manufacturing process.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for breathability
Layla Kapok Pillow
4.5 (3.3k+) from Layla
- Available sizes: queen, king
- Cover material: polyester
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $109.00
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
Soft and supportive, this luxurious pillow is made with Kapok fibers and premium open-cell memory foam. The result is a plush pillow that cradles your head, conforming to your body and holding that shape throughout the night.
The cover of the Layla Kapok is a polyester and viscose blend with hexagon stitching. This provides extra breathability to allow for maximum airflow through the pillow, which is helpful for anyone who sleeps hot.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for firm support
EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow
4.1 (26.9k+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: standard, queen, near king
- Cover material: bamboo fiber
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $41.99
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow is an option for people looking for firm support.
This pillow is contoured to provide ergonomic support that aligns your head, neck, shoulders, and back. The company explains that in the first 2 weeks of use, people may experience some discomfort as their body adjusts to using the pillow.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for medium support
Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Pillow
4.2 (7.8k+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: standard, queen, king
- Cover material: bamboo
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $58.99
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Pillow is a popular choice for people who sleep in any position. The fill, made of shredded memory foam, conforms to your head and neck, keeping the spine properly aligned while you sleep. The fill is removable, allowing you to customize the support.
The vented bamboo cover is designed to help keep your head cool at night and is resistant to dust mites, making it a solid choice for people with allergies.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for soft support
DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow
4.5 (635+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: queen
- Cover material: cotton
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $75.00
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow is a duck down pillow that’s good for people looking for soft support. Its flat design makes it a smart choice for stomach sleepers who have neck pain.
Bonus: You can machine wash and dry this hypoallergenic pillow.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best pillow for stomach sleepers
The Belly Sleep Pillow
4.5 (937+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: mini, queen
- Cover material: bamboo and polyester
- Machine washable: no
- Price: $49.99
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The Belly Sleep Pillow is designed to be especially thin and flat, which is great for people who sleep on their stomach.
Its edges are curved to help reduce head and neck rotation and pressure points that contribute to pain. The memory foam material is infused with cooling gel. The brand says the pillow is also hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for petite folks
Blissbury Thin Memory Foam Pillow
4.5 (6.2k+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: 2.6 in (height) queen; 3.3 in (height) queen; 2.6 in (height) king
- Cover material: 65% polyester, 35% rayon
- Machine washable: yes
- Price: $44.99
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The slim design of the Blissbury Thin Memory Foam Pillow Pillow is great for petite sleepers, especially those with smaller necks, as it maintains proper spinal alignment. Its low loft prevents neck strain, and the memory foam provides supportive contouring for a comfortable sleep.
The double weave pillowcase helps wicks away moisture for added comfort throughout the night. It’s made from a blend of 65% polyester and 35% rayon, making it soft and easy to care for with its washable and removable design.
What our tester says
Pros & cons
Product details
Most natural materials
Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow
4.3 (3.5k+) from Amazon
- Available sizes: standard, queen
- Cover material: cotton
- Machine washable: no
- Price: $42.48
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
Buckwheat pillows have been used for centuries and are still a favorite in Japan. The Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow gets high marks for keeping your head cool while you sleep.
This pillow supports the head and neck to help prevent stiffness and headaches. The hulls shift and rise at the neck area, allowing your head to sink into proper alignment.
Pros & cons
Product details
Comparing the best pillows for neck pain
Name
Price*
Sleeping position
Features
Cover material
Sleep Artisan Luxury Side Sleeper Pillow
$99.49
side sleeper
antimicrobial, hypoallergenic
cotton blend
$109
all
vegan materials
cotton
Nature’s Guest Cervical Support Pillow
$54.99
side and back sleeper
hypoallergenic cover, cooling
cotton
$109
side sleepers
highly breathable
polyester
EPABO Contour Memory Foam Pillow
$41.99
stomach, back, and side sleepers
firm support, budget-friendly
bamboo fiber
Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Pillow
$58.99
any type of sleeper
hypoallergenic
bamboo
DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow
**$75
stomach sleeper
hypoallergenic
cotton
$49.99
side and back sleeper
cooling gel
bamboo and polyester
Blissbury Thin Memory Foam Pillow
$44.99
side and stomach
very thin
Polyester and rayon
**$42.48
back and side sleeper
cooling
cotton
*Prices are based on one queen size pillow. All pricing is accurate as of April 2024.
**Only standard sizes are available for this brand.
How we chose the best pillows for neck pain
When considering pillows for this list, we mainly looked for foam and latex pillows. Why? Because research suggests that these materials are helpful for people with neck pain. According to a 2020 studyTrusted Source, latex and memory foam pillows may offer more support than traditional pillows and may help reduce neck fatigue.
Additionally, we looked for ergonomic pillows designed to provide ample cervical support without elevating the head too much. A 2021 studyTrusted Source found that increased pillow height changes the way your spine curves and increases pressure in your cervical spine, or neck.
We still included several alternative pillow options in this roundup, like models filled with down and buckwheat, since a foam pillow may not work for everyone.
new | Viv powered by Ai
GET PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS
Searching for pillows?TAKE QUIZ
Neck pain and its relation to sleep quality
Neck pain can involve discomfort in the muscles, bones, nerves, joints, and disks between the bones. It can cause difficulty in movement.
Sometimes, a chronic health condition, such as fibromyalgia, causes neck pain. In other cases, it can occur as a result of an injury.
While periodic discomfort in your neck isn’t typically something to worry about, it’s important to seek medical care if your symptoms don’t go away within a week or escalate to other areas of your body.
It’s difficult to sleep when you’re experiencing any kind of pain, including chronic neck pain. You might toss and turn all night to find a comfortable sleeping position.
Researchers in a 2020 studyTrusted Source that evaluated teens found that neck pain was linked to poor sleep quality in this age group.
Another 2020 studyTrusted Source involved 2,328 individual twins. Researchers assessed their sleep quality and chronic neck pain and noted that chronic neck pain was significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Genetic factors may also influence this association.
How pillows affect neck pain during sleep
You spend about one-third of your life sleeping. Pillows that are too stiff or too full may strain your neck by keeping it flexed throughout the night, resulting in pain.
You can ease your neck pain by using a supportive pillow, trying physical therapy or osteopathic manipulative treatmentTrusted Source, and participating in regular exercise that includes strengthening exercisesTrusted Source for the neck and upper quadrant.
Filling
Fill matters, too. There are several types of pillow fill, including latex, polyester, and feather. The type of fill you choose is up to personal preference, and it may take some time to find the fill that feels best for you.
Change it up
A general best practice is to change your pillow every 1–2 years, especially if you’re using one made from feathers. Over time, the filling can compress and not provide enough support.
If you’re choosing a memory foam pillow, you may be able to get away with changing it less often. A good indicator that it’s time for replacement is if you’re experiencing new pain or if the filling is no longer distributed evenly.
Wash it
Regardless, it’s a good idea to wash your pillow every 6 months, following the manufacturer’s instructions. This is especially true if you have allergies or asthma. Drying on high heat will help kill dust mites.
How to choose a pillow if you have neck pain
If neck pain keeps you up at night, you might want to consider swapping your pillow for one that’s the right height. In the pillow world, height is usually described using the word “loft.”
The right amount of loft depends a lot on your preferred sleeping position. Stomach sleepers, for example, should opt for a pillow with a lower loft. Essentially, you want a pillow that will keep your spine in alignment without putting too much pressure on your neck.
You might also want to look for a pillow made of supportive foam or latex rather than down or down alternative.
Shape may also be a consideration. Cervical or ergonomic pillows are designed to provide support specifically for the neck and head, for instance.
Pillows can be made from a range of materials, including latex, polyester, cotton, and more. A 2020 studyTrusted Source discovered that latex and memory foam are the best pillow materials for neck pain. This is because these materials provide optimal neck support, which can improve sleep quality.
Best sleeping positions for neck pain
Generally, if you’re experiencing neck pain, it’s best to sleep on your back or side.
Sleeping on your stomach, especially if you’re sleeping with a pillow that’s too thick, can put excess pressure on your cervical spine and cause neck pain.
Keep your neck aligned with your body. You may want to place a pillow under your knees to keep your spine in proper alignment.
Still searching for the right sleep products?
Let us help. Shop our top picks for pillows by condition or sleeping position to get the sound sleep you deserve.
Other tips to help neck pain after switching your pillow
If you’ve changed your pillow but still aren’t finding relief, you can also try these tips:
- Modify your overall posture when standing or sitting. Find a neutral spine in these positions, with your shoulders hovering directly over your hips and your ears over your shoulders.
- Stretch your neck every 20–30 minutes when doing computer work, driving long distances, or doing other repetitive tasks that tax your neck. It may be helpful to set a reminder on your computer or phone to take breaks.
- Use a backpack or rolling suitcase when carrying heavy loads. Either evenly distribute the weight or wheel it around. Using a shoulder bag puts excess strain on your neck and shoulders.
- Use heat or ice to ease the pain by taking a warm shower or applying a hot or cold compress. This is especially effective in the first 2–3 days of an acute injury.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Try to quit smoking, if you smoke. Researchers note that smoking is associated with chronic neck pain.
When to talk with a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if your neck pain doesn’t respond to a change in your pillow, posture, or other lifestyle measures.
In some cases, neck pain may be a symptom of a condition that needs medical attention. Possible causes include:
- muscle strain from everyday activities or injury
- joint issues or osteoarthritis
- nerve compression from bone spurs or herniated discs
- diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or meningitis
Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice numbness or less strength in your arms or hands. Any shooting pain down your arm or around your shoulder is also important to note.
Seek immediate medical attention if your neck pain is severe or has resulted from an injury, like a car accident or fall.
Frequently asked questions about sleeping with neck pain
Can a pillow cause neck pain?
What is the best pillow for side sleepers?
What pillow is best for neck support?
What pillow do chiropractors recommend?
Why does my neck hurt no matter what pillow I use?
What is a cervical pillow?
Who should use an orthopedic pillow?
Who should use a high loft pillow?
What pillow loft works best for sleeping with neck pain?
Can replacing your pillow improve neck pain?
What kind of pillow should you use for neck and shoulder pain?
How firm should a pillow be to alleviate neck pain?
Can neck pain be a sign of something serious?
Is a high, medium, or low loft pillow better for neck pain?
Takeaway
Getting relief from neck pain may be as simple as changing your pillow.
There are a number of options to suit a variety of needs and budgets, so it may be worth trying a few to see what works for you. Many companies offer money-back guarantees, so you’re covered if something doesn’t work.
If you still have neck pain after changing your pillow or your sleeping position, consider making an appointment with your doctor to rule out more serious conditions.
