Snooze more comfortably with these editor-tested pillows that provide reliable neck support.
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If you’re always waking up with a crick in your neck, your pillow could be to blame. After all, the right pillow can help you snooze much more comfortably, while a pillow that’s not supportive enough—or ideal for your sleeping position—can cause neck pain that keeps you tossing and turning. But what exactly should you look for in the best pillows for neck pain?
According to Viral R. Patel, M.D., acting instructor in orthopedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, pillows that are made to ease neck pain (sometimes called cervical pillows) should promote proper spinal alignment, or guide your spine into a straight line from your head to your pelvis.
Meet the Experts: Viral R. Patel, M.D., acting instructor in orthopedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine; Michael Breus, Ph.D., author and clinical psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders.
Additionally, the right pillow for preventing your neck pain will depend on your preferred sleeping position. For instance, the best pillows for side sleepers should generally be a higher loft to support the neck, while back and stomach sleepers may benefit from a lower loft pillow. Luckily, many popular pillows (including several that we recommend below) let you customize the height and loft to your liking with adjustable fill that you can add or remove.
Ahead, we corralled the best, most supportive pillows for relieving neck pain, as recommended by experts and tested by our own editors—including top picks for soft memory foam pillows, hypoallergenic pillows, cooling pillows for hot sleepers, and more.
We consulted Patel and Michael Breus, Ph.D., author and clinical psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, to determine what to look for in the best pillows for neck pain. Additionally, we tapped Prevention editors for their own favorite tested pillows, and combed through thousands of user reviews of pillows from trusted, popular brands to find the best pillows for neck pain relief.
Additional reporting by Micaela Bahn.
Whether you sleep on your back or your side, there’s a pillow out there that’ll help alleviate your neck pain (although it might take a little while to adjust to a more ergonomic design). Here’s how to choose the right one:
✔️ Consider your preferred sleeping position. Your cervical pillow should be tailored to how you sleep. Side sleepers should choose pillows that are on the taller end, which will keep your neck straight in line with your spine. Back and stomach sleepers, meanwhile, may want shorter pillows, which can keep your neck from angling too far. Dr. Patel explains that height is also important because too much or too little elevation can lead to breathing difficulties and sleep interruptions, as confirmed by a 2015 study.
✔️ Don’t worry too much about the material. When it comes to neck pain, you can choose almost any material with confidence, Dr. Patel notes, including foam, microfiber, latex, and polyester. Most pillows are designed with memory foam, a firmer material that provides comfortable neck support and instantly snaps back into shape, says Breus.
One material that our experts recommend avoiding, however, is down. “I don’t recommend feather pillows because I’ve seen patients who have had pretty bad experiences with them,” Dr. Patel warns. Most true down pillows, he says, just don’t provide enough support to keep your spine in alignment through the night. Plus, the fill might trigger allergies.
✔️ See a doctor if your neck doesn’t feel better. Finding a corrective pillow is a great first step in treating neck pain, but if you’re still struggling with chronic pain in your neck, shoulders, and arms, it’s best to see a doctor. “A pillow is not treatment,” Dr. Patel says. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider, who may refer you to an orthopedist for a full evaluation.
There are a number of different things that can lead to neck pain, including stress, misalignment, and natural degenerative changes in your body. “Stress and overworking can lead your neck muscles to tighten or spasm and can also lead to the shoulder muscles tightening,” Medhat Mikhael, M.D., medical director of the MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center’s Spine Health Center, previously told Prevention.
Another cause of neck pain could very well be the way you’re sleeping, including the pillows you’re using—but still, chronic neck pain is more likely to be exacerbated, rather than caused, by sleep habits, says Dr. Patel. Beyond spending your day at a desk, activities that keep your head in a strained, fixed position like painting, riding a racing bike, or doing the breaststroke can also overuse your neck muscles.
Any pillow that guides your spine into a straight line from your head to your pelvis is ideal for neck pain, according to Dr. Patel. These are often made of memory foam, which is firm enough to support the neck and keep its shape. Some look like traditional pillows while others have unique shapes to cradle the head and neck. To figure out which type is best for you, consider your usual sleeping positions and consult your doctor.
