Shape: Neck pillows come in various shapes and sizes ranging from standard rectangular forms to more specialized options that are designed to address neck pain in one way or another. “It’s also important to consider the width of your shoulders and the size of your head.”

Foley says that when choosing the right loft, you should also consider your body type: “The ideal loft for neck pain is one that aligns your neck with your spine,” he says.

Toussaint suggests starting with a medium loft, or a pillow with a height between three and five inches, to get a feel for the loft that works for you. He explains that “the neck shouldn’t be elevated higher than the rest of your spine” which means people managing neck pain should avoid pillows that are overly lofty (typically higher than five inches) to ensure that their head isn’t forced into a painful angle. Loft: The loft, or height, of your pillow is a critical factor, according to Dr. Memory foam, latex, and wool tend to create a firmer sleeping surface while down, feather-fill, polyfill, kapok, and cotton materials are softer and more plush. The type of fill your pillow has will also affect the firmness level.

“The right pillow firmness for you will depend on how heavy your head is, how high the pillow is, what position you tend to sleep in, and the firmness of your mattress,” she says. While our experts clearly favor firmer pillows for neck support, Foley explains that people should also consider their mattress type and head weight. Schuler, “Those with neck or back pain will find that both medium-firm mattresses and pillows provide the best support at night.” Medium-firm pillows cradle your head and help your body stay in a neutral position and alignment while you snooze. We talked to Cusher, Foley, Toussaint-Keshinro, Schuler, and three more experts to determine the best pillows for people who are managing neck pain.īest overall | Best memory foam | Best neck support for side sleepers | Best for severe neck pain | Best water pillow | Best adjustable loft | Best cervical roll bolster | Best rectangular neck support for back sleepers | Best for minor neck pain | Best coolingįirmness and fill: Supportive pillows, which the experts we spoke to agree are the best option for people with neck pain, tend to be on the firmer side of the pillow spectrum. Thomas Schuler, chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute echoed this suggestion, noting that there are three natural curves in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines “which go in opposite directions to balance each other.” These curves can decrease in size due to age, poor posture, or injury, “making it all the more important that they are supported while sleeping,” and the right pillow can help with that. Rennes Toussaint-Keshinro, a chiropractor and mental-health coach, advises that people with neck pain should stick to their side and back as much as possible to ensure that their head, neck, and spine are supported in a neutral position. Neck pain can strike whether you are a side sleeper, back sleeper, stomach sleeper, or a combination of all three. “A person’s sleep setup can play a crucial role in pain recovery, specifically neck pain,” Cushner tells us. Keith Cushner, a product expert at, and his colleague Logan Foley, a sleep-science coach and the managing editor at, agree that the right pillow is pivotal in this regard. Whether you’re navigating post-injury neck pain, a scrolling-induced achy hunch, or something in between, supporting your neck while you sleep can make a huge difference in your quality of rest, not to mention how much neck pain you feel when you’re awake. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers

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