The 11 Best Pillows for Neck Pain, No Matter What Type of Sleeper You Are

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No one should wake up in pain. Unless, of course, we're talking about a little bit of soreness from a killer workout you put yourself through. (Massage guns and compression boots might be what you need.) But, as far as waking up achy with neck or back pain, that should be behind you. You spent all that money on a damn bed frame, mattress, sheet set (maybe a cooling sheet set), and a duvet cover all just to be waking up with aches? No way. I'm not going to let that happen. Chances are, you need a little pillow refresh, because you have a pillow that's too lofty or too thin, and that's what is ruining your neck. That shouldn't be happening. You've got to buy a pillow for neck pain, something to properly support you.

Lucky for you, I'm a home expert, and we (the shopping editors of Esquire) are home experts. Our editorial team has a stable of sleepers, and we're all of different persuasions. We've got back sleepers, side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and *Drake Voice* Combination sleepers. So we all got to testing and found nine absolute best pillows for neck pain—nine options for every type of sleeper out there. So look inward, record a video of yourself sleeping, and figure out what type of sleeper you are. Then, use this guide, and we'll tell you what you need to get. Then? Kiss neck pain goodbye.

Original Loft Pillow

A pillow so great we've already endorsed it. Because you can adjust the amount of fill in your Coop pillow, it's adaptable to any sleeper's specific needs. Sleep on your back, use the standard amount of fill. Side sleepers add extra fill. Stomach sleepers remove some fill.

Even within each of those groups, not every body is the same. So, the Coop pillow essentially lets you create the perfect pillow for your body and sleep style.

The Pillow

Marlow also makes a great adjustable pillow. Though it's not as great as the Coop in that regard, with only three options that change the physical height of the pillow.

Where the Marlow pillow shines is in combining adjustability and cooling. The cooling fibers and open structure make it perfect for hot sleepers. The ability to play with the height makes it a better choice than most for neck pain.

Cervical Pillow for Neck and Shoulder Pain

If your issues are bordering on clinical, you need something like this, tailor made for spine alignment. The winged shape is great for side sleepers, as it supports your head, aligns your spine, and gives you somewhere to comfortably set your arm. Plus for back sleepers, the arm-cutout-wing-things actually do a great job of keeping you from tossing and turning at night.

PlushComfort Curved Pillow

Sleep Number makes a cervical pillow that is less intense than some of those big winged options. The curve allows it to fit snug on your shoulders, which keeps it properly positioned even if you are tossing and turning.

As for the comfort, it was one of our favorites. The down alternative does a great job of replicating the real thing, and it manages to stay consistently cool. The cotton cover is nice as well, which is a big deal here since it doesn't properly within a pillowcase.

That brings us to the issues we had. The pillowcase fit is the main one. You can put a pillowcase on it, but it looks a bit silly. Other than that, this model might be a bit too short for side sleepers. If you're a side sleeper with broad shoulders, go for the even more lofty PlushComfort Ultimate.

Harmony Pillow

One of the biggest issues with neck pain pillows is cooling. Most models use memory foams that tend to trap heat. Purple gets around this by using its low-density GelFlex grid. It conforms to your head with pressure, but the low density allows you to get a lot of airflow, keeping you cool.

As for neck pain care, Purple does that by offering three different heights. For back sleepers, this is less of a science, so you might need to buy all three sizes to find out what works for you. For side sleepers, take a taper measure and measure from your ear to the bed. It'll be somewhere within this 5.5- to 7.5-inch range. Get the pillow that fits that gap, and it'll keep your spine in alignment.

The only caution we have here is for stomach sleepers. Even the smallest option will be too thick, since the latex that makes up the body of the pillow is quite firm.

Side Cube Pro

It looks weird and intense, but if you are a dedicated 100-percent-of-the-time side sleeper, the Pillow Cube is the only neck pain pillow you should buy. It fits perfectly on your shoulder, filling that gap between ear and bed, and keeping your spine in alignment.

If you are any type of combination sleeper, maybe look elsewhere, or keep a second pillow you like. The cube is specialized for side sleepers. It's awful for back or stomach sleepers.

Down Side Sleeper Pillow

If you're a diehard side sleeper and a diehard down pillow lover, Parachute has you covered. Like the Pillow Cube above, this thing is tailor made for side sleepers, but it's got that plush, natural down filling you want.

The only downside is that Parachute only has one size of square pillow. For most people, it's fine. But, for those 5 percent with especially broad shoulders, you might have to go elsewhere. The good thing, though, is that Parachute has a nice 60-day return period. If you're not sure, give it a try for a few nights or a few weeks.

Ergo Pillow

But for a pillow that can do it all, look at Tempur-Pedic's Ergo pillow. The shape features two different heights, with a crevasse in the middle. Use the taller side when sleeping on your side, and switch to the shorter side when on your back or stomach. And because of Tempur-Pedic's standout memory foam, it's a pillow we really, really loved sleeping on.

The only downside is that memory foam traps a fair bit of heat. And since the pillow is shaped in a particular way, flipping it to the cool side doesn't have the same effect.

Ultra Slim Gel Foam Pillow

(Content warning: I'm about to talk about my summer in Europe.) Of all the dumb things American's say are just different in Europe, the one I actually care about is their pillows. Unless you're staying in a fancy, foreigner-focused hotel, the pillows across the continent tend to be a lot flatter than the ones here in America.

For me, this was a revelation. I sleep on my back or stomach, almost never my side, and a thin pillow is perfect for either application. This cooling foam pillow from Bluewave was the best we found on this side of the pond. Stomach sleepers can go for the 2.25-inch Hyper Slim. Back sleepers can pick any of the three options. Side sleepers should stay away from this one.

Molded Latex Pillow

If you like the idea of a slab pillow, but don't want to go super slim, Avocado makes a great option. It's about five inches tall, so not a great option for stomach sleepers, but it's an ideal shape for back and side sleepers. It's a lot more firm than other options, which is deal for neck pain, as most issues come from needing more support.

Therapeutic pillow

Would your $500 be better spent on an actual chiropractor or orthopedic visit? Maybe. But who cares!

Joking aside, Hästens makes a therapeutic pillow that surprisingly is worth a real shout. The shapes you're able to get by inserting one or both of the cylindrical inserts is really great for neck pain—especially for side sleepers.

And when we're talking materials, none of the other pillows compare. The certified goose down and woven cotton alone can fix any nighttime pains.

What Type of Pillow Do I Need?

Most of the neck pain problems we experience from sleeping come down to the head support we're using. Back sleepers can get away with just about anything, but side sleepers and stomach sleepers have specific needs their pillow should take care of. Here's a what those are:

Back sleepers - Generally considered the "best" way to sleep, your spine will be in generally good alignment no matter the pillow you use. You can get away with pretty much any pillow. That said, you don't want anything too lofty that will compress your neck.

Side sleepers - You want pillows with extra loft, something to fill that space between your ear and the bed. Otherwise, your head is going to droop and cause problems. Beyond that, you need your pillow to be relatively firm, so as to not strain the muscles on the side of your neck.

Stomach sleepers - You poor fucks. This is the sleeping position that medical professionals will steer you away from, because there's a very select few pillows that will do the job for you. So what do you need? Thin, probably the thinnest pillow you can find. on your stomach, it only takes a few inches to align your neck with your spine.

Tips for Choosing Pillow for Neck Pain

Loft - How tall a pillow is will be the biggest factor in spine alignment. Side sleepers need tall pillows to fit that shoulder gap. Back sleepers need medium-loft that will conform a bit. Stomach sleepers need to prioritize flat, barely-there pillows.

Materials - Think about what you want from the actual sleeping experience. Down gives you a classic hotel pillow feel. Down alternative does that without allergy or animal concerns. Memory foam is firm, but can run hot. Latex is a slightly cooler alternative to foam.

Hard or Soft Pillows - This one also goes back to sleeping position. Back and side sleepers will generally need something firm. Stomach sleepers will need something soft or especially thin.

How We Selected Our Picks

Well, we slept on them. We slept on them in every position people sleep in, and we reported back with the results. Our biggest consideration, though, was spine alignment.

Spine alignment is the most important aspect of pillows for neck pain. Think about how your body looks when you are standing up with proper posture. From your toes to the crown of your head, there should be a (generally) straight line. If the head deviates from that line for long periods of time—especially if it is bearing weight—you are going to get pain in your neck muscles and vertebrae. So, we look for pillows that will keep all necks in perfect alignment, with extra support when necessary.

Beyond all that, we looked at things like price, quality of materials, and ease of cleaning. Those all took backseats to comfort in our testing, but they were still considered.

Other Tips for Relieving Neck Pain

Get active - Unless your pain stems from a previous injury or some type of nerve pain, it's likely related to the muscles in and around your neck. Keeping these muscles active and stretched out will take care of a lot of pain.

Focus on Your Posture During the Day - Similarly, a lot of chronic sleeping pain stems from issues in your day-to-day movement. Staring down at a phone all day can put stress on your neck and back. Hard labor will obviously put a toll on your muscles and joints. It's important to know how you are using your neck during the day and what stretches can help you with that.

A New Mattress - If you're looking to buy your way out of this problem, a mattress could help. Again, think about spinal alignment. An old and sagging mattress isn't going to help keep your sleeping posture aligned.

A Body Pillow - Side sleepers can especially benefit from body pillows. In your sleep, you'll hold onto it. It'll act as a post to which your body is attached, and that helps keep your posture straight.

Why Trust Esquire?

We don't claim to be doctors here at Esquire, but we've gone deep into the search for the best sleep products out there. We don't just believe in internet research, we believe in human research. We're fighting the good fight against AI and testing the things you can't, not relying on aggregated reviews.

We actually drink the alcohol, use the sheets, stay in the hotels, and of course, we use the pillows for real. We're only recommending the best of the best, because that's what you deserve.

Pillow Guides for Other Sleepers

• Best Down Pillows

• Best Luxury Pillows

• Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

• Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

• Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

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