12 Best Pillows for Neck Pain 2023

Fill type: Polyfill | Firmness: Firm | Loft: High or medium | Shape: Cervical | Care instructions: Hand wash and lay flat to dry

Cushner says the best pillow for neck and shoulder pain is “firm enough to hold the head at a healthy angle but soft enough to alleviate pressure points.” Ideal for back and side sleepers, this cervical pillow from Core Products has two different-sized bolsters on either side that offer more or less neck support, depending on your preference. If you’re a back sleeper, the valley in the middle cradles your head while the bolsters support your neck, keeping your upper body and spine in the right alignment. If you’re a side sleeper, you can lay your head on the pillow’s raised sides. Since this type of pillow shape can take some getting used to, the brand suggests that you acclimate to the smaller-diameter bolster first, even alternating between this pillow and your current pillow to start, and adjust from there. The pillow comes in three sizes to accommodate different body types.

Fill type: Memory foam | Firmness: Firm | Loft: High | Shape: Cube | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

One of our favorite pillows for side sleepers, the Pillow Cube’s defining characteristic is its square shape, designed to maintain a 90-degree angle between your head and shoulders and relieve pressure on your neck. Made of structurally firm carbon-core memory foam that is naturally antimicrobial and designed to cradle your head while holding its shape, the Pillow Cube is encased in a machine-washable cover. You can choose from three sizes — standard, thin, or thick — depending on your height. The standard size is for people who are between five-foot-four and six-foot-three in height, the thin size is for people who are five-foot-three and shorter, and the thick size is for people who are six-foot-four and taller. I slept on the standard size (I am five-foot-ten) and found that despite feeling quite firm, the foam still conformed to my head shape for customized support. I sleep on my side most of the night, but if you tend to flip between your side and back, the cube has the potential to throw your neck out of whack in any other position than your side.

If you sleep exceptionally hot, for an extra $20, the brand also sells a cooling version of the pillow that it says will help you sleep up to ten degrees cooler.

Fill type: Gel-infused memory foam | Firmness: Medium-firm | Loft: Low | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Thick, fluffy pillows can actually lift your neck out of alignment, exasperating further aches. Amanda Kruel, VP of Innovation Merchandising at Mattress Firm, recommends a lower-loft, medium-firm pillow for this reason. And Dr. Janet Kennedy, a clinical psychologist and the founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, explains that for back sleepers especially, neck support is essential “to minimize snoring and keep the airway open.” After Strategist senior editor (and back sleeper) Crystal Martin noticed that higher-loft pillows put strain and stress on her neck, she switched to the super-slim Blue Wave pillow. “I like that it’s still supportive even though it’s thin. I sleep with it turned vertical, so it’s underneath my shoulder blades and it supports my neck enough, so it’s not dipping too far back,” she says. Available in three lofts — super-slim (3.25 inches), ultra-slim (2.75 inches), and hyper-slim (2.25 inches), the brand suggests the ultra- and hyper-slim pillows for stomach sleepers and people who sleep with their arm under their pillow, and the super-slim for back sleepers (the brand also notes that all three pillows are too thin for side sleepers). The interior of the pillow is a single slab of gel-infused perforated memory foam with a medium-firm density. Like most memory foam pillows, the pillow itself is not machine washable, but the cover can be washed with the rest of your laundry.

Fill type: Memory foam | Firmness: Firm | Loft: Medium-high | Shape: Cylindrical | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

While you can use this cylindrical bolster pillow on its own, Dr. Singh suggests pairing it with a standard bed pillow to avoid stressing the rest of your upper body: “The problem with cervical neck rolls is that only the neck is supported; the head isn’t, the upper back isn’t. And you really need to support all these structures because you’re going to toss and turn throughout the night,” he explains.

The machine-washable cover is soft and cozy, while the sturdy memory-foam interior is firm and responsive. To create a combination pillow setup, you can slide the bolster pillow into the space between the base of your head and your shoulders while placing an adjustable-loft pillow underneath your head. Alternatively, you can use the bolster pillow between your knees for extra spine support.

Fill type: Kapok fiber and shredded memory foam | Firmness: Adjustable | Loft: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Derived from the pods of the kapok tree, kapok fiber is a fluffier, airier alternative to wool or cotton. The Layla Kapok pillow combines kapok with shredded memory foam for a plush yet supportive feel. The standout feature of this pillow is its adjustability — you can increase or decrease the loft and firmness by adding or removing fill. “Buying pillows with adjustable lofts is a good call if you’re not sure which one will work best for you,” says Cusher.

Fill type: Copper-infused gel memory foam | Firmness: Adjustable | Loft: Adjustable | Shape: Curved | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

If you’re a side sleeper or back sleeper who needs extra neck support and shoulder pressure relief, a curved pillow like this one by Scrumptious can help you achieve pain-free alignment. Filled with copper-infused gel memory foam, the pillow naturally pulls heat away from your body so you don’t overheat while you sleep. The pillow can be adjusted by removing or adding filling for more customized support.

Fill type: Chopped memory-foam and microfiber | Firmness: Adjustable | Loft: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Spot clean

Filled with a proprietary blend of chopped memory foam and down-alternative microfiber, the Marlow pillow has two compression zippers on either side and when they are unzipped, the pillow expands vertically, adjusting the loft without the hassle of adding or removing any filling. When I first started sleeping on this pillow, the zippers made it especially simple to adjust to the right loft for my height. I’ve now had it for a year and I almost exclusively use it with one side zipped and the other unzipped for a middle-of-the-road loft and firmness, which works for my tendency to roll from my side to my back. The chopped memory foam gives the pillow a supportive feel while the microfiber adds a pleasant softness. Since our experts recommend a firmer pillow for neck support, experimenting with the zipper configuration can help you figure out the best firmness-and-loft combination that works best for your body size and sleep position.

Fill type: Charcoal-infused, perforated molded latex | Firmness: Medium-firm | Loft: High | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

According to JD Velilla, the head of sleep experience for Serta Simmons Bedding, most people are combination sleepers who don’t remain in on position all night. Made with organic, sustainably sourced latex, this slab-style pillow by Avocado has a consistently flat surface (kind of like a sheet cake), so no matter which way you turn or lie down, the support is the same. It comes in three sizes: standard, queen, and king.

This is a firm pillow with little to no give — the latex has a bouncy responsiveness, but your head won’t really sink in. It also has a fairly high loft of about five inches tall and is intended for back and side sleepers, though it may be a bit lofty for people with smaller frames or narrow shoulders. When I slept on it myself, I felt like my head was propped up by the pillow instead of cradled. That worked well for my height since I’m five-foot-ten, and would be ideal for anyone who needs consistent firm neck support.

Fill type: Molded foam | Firmness: Very firm | Loft: Medium | Shape: Cervical | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

If you have severe neck pain, talking to a doctor about your treatment options is the best first step. But if you suspect your pillows and sleeping position are partly to blame, a corrective pillow like this highly structured one might help. It is designed to align your neck, support your thoracic spine, relieve jaw pain, and comfort your head. There are four sizes to choose from — average, petite, large, and extra-large — and the optimal sizing is determined by the horizontal measurement from the base of your neck to the tip of your shoulder. This pillow is also made by Core Products, maker of our top pick, and the brand warns that your neck pain may actually increase as you acclimate to the Therapeutica pillow’s rigid shape. However, over time, it can help reduce stiffness. As you use the pillow, the firm molded foam will soften a bit while maintaining its supportive structure.

Fill type: Hyperelastic polymer and perforated latex | Firmness: Medium | Loft: Low, medium, or high loft | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Waking up in a pool of sweat is equal parts gross and annoying, so the Purple Harmony pillow encourages airflow by layering a mesh cover and the brand’s signature gel grid material over a ventilated latex core. The pillow is available in three loft heights: low, medium, and high — the lowest loft is best for people with a smaller frame, the medium loft is ideal for side and combination sleepers with a medium-to-large frame, and the highest loft works well for people with large frames who are combination and side sleepers.

I slept on the medium-loft height and found it to be far softer than the Avocado molded latex pillow, making it a good bet for people who prefer a softer, squishier pillow but still require solid head and neck support. The inner latex slab offers more support than a shredded latex pillow would while the honeycomb grid adds springy responsiveness. Unlike other soft or plush pillows that lose their shape and need re-fluffing, the grid moved with my head as I shifted position and gently bounced back into shape. The grid, perforated latex, and moisture-wicking cover also helped me sleep cooler overall.

Fill type: Water and poly-fiber | Firmness: Adjustable | Loft: Adjustable | Shape: Rectangular | Care instructions: Machine washable cover

Sleeping on a sack of water might not sound like the most appealing way to doze off, but water pillows can be excellent for neck support. Additionally, McGinn says there isn’t any sloshing around at all, and “since the water pillow has some weight to it, it will stay put to keep head and neck from moving.” Acting like fluid memory foam, the water consistently conforms to the shape of your head, helping to lessen any neck stress caused by tossing and turning. If you’re a bit intimidated by the functionality of a water pillow, this one by Mediflow is pretty straightforward. The pillow is made with an adjustable water pouch that is covered in a soft poly-fiber filling. For a firmer pillow, which is best for neck pain, you can fill up the pouch with more water. Using less water will give you a softer, flatter pillow.