The Best Pillows for Neck Pain

Luxome Layr Adjustable Pillow

If you’re suffering from neck pain and having a difficult time finding a pillow that feels just right, an adjustable pillow can be a good solution. And while most adjustable pillows allow you to add or remove filling until you reach your desired height and firmness, the Luxome Layr takes a different approach.

 

The pillow comes with three different inserts—soft (down alternative fiber fill), medium (shredded memory foam and fiberfill blend), and firm (one- and two-inch solid memory foam) —that can be used in different combinations to get the unique configuration that works best for you. Although you’re free to play around with the combinations to find out what feels best, you can also follow Luxome’s guide based on sleeping positions.

 

The Layr is also a great option if you run hot during the night, as it has a bamboo viscose cooling cover and gel-infused memory foam that helps regulate temperature and pull heat away from the body. The cover and cotton inserts are machine-washable, so the pillow is easy to keep hygienic and allergen-free.

 

• Price: $120-$150
• Size: Standard, king
• Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Lots of options for all types of sleepers
• Cover and insert covers are machine-washable
• Cooling tech prevents overheating

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can feel overly complicated if you have simple pillow needs

Saatva Latex Pillow

Latex foam is an excellent option for those looking for the high support and pressure relief of memory foam without the occasional unpleasant smell or use of toxic chemicals. This pillow by Saatva has a shredded latex core surrounded by microfiber fill, which gives the pillow a soft, supportive, and very plush feel that’s responsive enough that it won’t go flat. It also allows you to sink in just enough that it cradles your head and neck.

 

The pillow is made from natural Talalay latex, which doesn’t pose a threat to those with allergies like the latex found in medical and household products. Commonly used in bedding, Talalay is durable and pressure-relieving.

 

The pillow’s cover is made from 100% Fair Trade-certified cotton, which is machine-washable, naturally cooling, and highly breathable. If you’re unsure if it’s the right pillow for you, you have plenty of time to make up your mind—Saatva gives you a 45-night sleep trial with your purchase.

 

Read our full review here.

 

• Price: $165-$185
• Size: Queen, king
• Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Made from natural products
• Fairtrade-certified
• Durable and responsive

Cons:

• Pricey
• Non-adjustable

Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Memory Foam

If you find that it’s not just neck pain waking you up in the middle of the night but also overheating, you’ll probably want to invest in a pillow that’s purpose-built to keep you cool.

 

This one by Brooklyn Bedding uses a dual-action cooling system that incorporates ventilation technology—alongside a gel infusion in the pillow’s foam that brings heat away from the head and neck. It also uses copper graphite, which is antimicrobial and resistant to allergens, mold, bacteria, and dust mites.

 

The pillow itself is made from a single piece of memory foam, which forms to the shape of the head, neck, and shoulders so it can support and relieve pressure from beneath your body. It also comes in both high- and low profile versions—the high is best for side sleepers, while low works best for back and stomach sleepers.

 

• Price: $97—$112
• Size: Queen, king
• Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Comes in high- and low-profile versions
• Great cooling technology
• Removable cover
• Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial

Cons:

• Might be too firm for some

Tempur-Cloud Adjustable Pillow

This adjustable pillow from Tempur-Pedic includes three different types of shredded foam that are designed to serve different support purposes. Tempur Pressure relief adapts to your weight, shape, and temperature; Tempur Plush is soft, pillowy, and allows for natural airflow; and Tempur Premier Support offers support for your head and neck, and prevents the pillow from going flat over time.

 

Since the pillow is adjustable, you can take out some of the filling to get it to a softer feeling and lower height, which will be more appropriate for some sleep styles. It can also help ease neck pain caused by misalignment. The pillow’s cover is removable, machine-washable, and equipped with Tempur-Pedic’s Surface Guard technology, which helps keep the whole pillow looking and smelling fresh.

 

• Price: $69—$89
• Size: Queen, king
• Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Adjustable
• Reasonable price
• Soft but supportive

Cons:

• Some found that the foam clumped

Marlow the Pillow

Most adjustable pillows require opening up the pillow and removing some of the filling, which isn’t very conducive to a last-minute adjustment before bed. The Marlow pillow, however, has an easier method: The pillow has zippers that can be opened for a softer, flatter feel, or zipped up for a plumper, firmer sleep surface. This is a great option if you switch sleep positions often, as you can adjust the pillow quickly to prevent neck pain.

 

The Marlow is filled with a blend of shredded memory foam and polyester microfiber fill, which makes it both soft and plush—and supportive without being hard. The cover is made from 100% cotton in a sateen finish, so it’s soft, crisp, and cool to the touch. While cotton itself is breathable, the cover also has mesh gussets that are exposed when fully unzipped. This helps to keep it even cooler and increases airflow.

 

While you can’t remove the cover on this pillow, it can be spot cleaned.

 

• Price: $65—$85
• Size: Standard, king
• Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

 

Pros:

• Easily adjustable
• Affordable price
• Hypoallergenic

Cons:

• Cover is not removable or washable

Lagoon Fox

Whether you’re a combination sleeper or just haven’t been able to find a pillow that relieves your neck pain without feeling like you’re sleeping on a rock, a microfiber/memory foam fill blend is a great option because it’s both soft and fluffy, as well as supportive and pressure-relieving. This one is also adjustable, so you can take out some of the fill if it feels too firm.

 

The pillow has a cover made from a bamboo polyester blend that’s soft to the touch and has natural cooling properties. It’s also machine-washable for easy cleaning—and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about allergies.

 

The Fox’s foam is also CertiPUR US certified, which means that it’s high-quality and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. Since the pillow’s foam includes a fiber blend, it’s less likely to clump than most shredded memory foam pillows.

 

• Price: $120-$140
• Size: Queen, king
• Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Doesn’t clump
• Soft but supportive
• Removable, washable cover
• Cooling properties

Cons:

• Expensive for a foam and fiber blend

Coop Sleep Goods Original 

The Coop Sleep Goods Original provides excellent pressure relief through the power of comfy, contouring memory foam. This makes the pillow a great option for back, side, and combination sleepers—and really, anyone who’s looking for a pillow with an adaptive memory foam feel. 

 

The pillow’s medium firmness also makes it a good fit for most sleepers, but you can unzip the pillow and remove some filling if you want it to be less elevated or firm. Memory foam has a reputation for being slow-moving, but this pillow also responds quickly to changes in movements, so it’s easy to flip from one side to the other and back. 

 

The pillow’s cover is made from viscose rayon derived from bamboo, which is designed to keep you cool and dry while you sleep. You can remove it and machine-wash it, and also machine-wash the whole pillow—one of our favorite things about this model is that it’s so easy to care for it and keep it feeling fresh.  

 

• Price: $72
• Size: 20” x 30”, 20” x 36”
• Rating: 4.7/5, 15,393 reviews

 

Pros:

• Adjustable
• Pressure relief from memory foam
• Responsive

 

Cons: 

• Heavy if you’re used to the fluffy lightness of down

Cozy Earth Silk

If you want one of the softest pillows known to mankind—and are willing to spend a little extra for it—then this silk pillow is for you. While silk is most commonly used as a pillow cover, this one uses it as a filling.

 

The pillow is stuffed with 100% mulberry silk, which is not only incredibly soft, plush, and clump-resistant but also highly breathable and naturally cooling. If you suffer from head and neck pain due to built-up pressure, the pillow could be a great option for you, as it allows you to sink down without the squeezing effect of memory foam.

 

The pillow also has a 100% viscose bamboo cover that’s naturally cool to the touch and moisture-wicking, which means that it will keep you feeling dry and sweat-free throughout the night. It also has a tight weave that’s resistant to pilling. While it’s recommended that you spot or dry clean the pillow if possible, the full pillow is machine-washable—though Cozy Earth recommends you add dryer balls when machine-drying to prevent clumping.

 

• Price: $225-$262
• Size: Standard, King
• Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Incredibly soft
• Machine-washable
• Moisture-wicking
• Highly breathable

Cons:

• Expensive