Experts note that the No. 1 method of alleviating neck, shoulder and back pain is changing your sleeping position. Well, at least trying to - it might not be as easy as it sounds, especially if you’re used to sleeping the way you do for the majority of your life. That said, the best pillow for neck pain can work wonders, too.
While changing sleeping positions is great, it’s definitely good to get yourself the best mattress for back and shoulder pain, and complement it with the best pillow for neck support. The more attention you pay to your sleeping accessories, the more likely you’re going to fix (or at least alleviate) your pain.
The options for the best pillow for neck pain are:
- Saatva Memory Foam Pillow
- Layla Pillow
- Purple Pillow
- Coop Original
- Puffy Pillow
- PlushBeds Latex Pillow
- Mediflow Water Pillow
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Why Look for the Best Pillow for Neck Pain?
Neck, back, hip and shoulder pains are some of the most common health issues that people deal with these days. It’s not at all surprising, though, since many people today work desk jobs that involve a lot of sitting around, hunched and with their backs arched.
Whether you’d be working at your laptop, driving a car or simply watching TV, most of these activities put a pretty massive load on your back. However, sleeping in an uncomfortable bed after a long day filled with stress and rushing is like icing on top of the cake.
To be frank, even the best pillow for neck pain isn’t going to “cure” you as a standalone product - if you want to really improve your sleep and eliminate (or at least lessen) those pesky pains, you should definitely look into some specific, pain alleviation design-focused mattresses out there, and then combine them with your pillow.
However, when it comes to the best pillow for neck support, it’s still important to know what exactly you should be looking for. And, well, to be frank, the main qualities of such pillows would have to be (surprise surprise!) weight support and shape adaptation.
Basically, according to how your neck tends to bend while laying down, oval-shaped pillows are going to be best in this situation.
That being said, the best pillows for neck pain don’t necessarily have to be round or oval-shaped - it’s just a good starting point. These days, many different manufacturers come up with some pretty interesting ideas for their pain alleviation-oriented products.
What importance does the pillow we sleep on have?
Pillows help to support your head when sleeping so that the neck and spine can be in alignment and rest of your body can relax. A pillow should allow your head to cool as the head is 7-10% of the skin surface and during sleep, our body temperature drops - this is part of the circadian rhythm. One way the body cools down is by dilation of blood vessels near the head, neck and chest.
1. Saatva - A Graphite-Infused Memory Foam Pillow
Ranks #1 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Graphite-infused design
- + Top-tier quality materials
- + Cooling gel-infused foam core
- + Superb contouring features
- - Might be a bit pricey for some
- - Short returns period
Saatva is a brand that has multiple different pillows to offer to their customers. Whether it be the classic variant, down alternative, or the memory foam pillow, though, you can always be sure that you’ll receive a top-quality product.
Today, however, our focus is aimed at the latter product - namely, the Saatva Memory Foam Pillow.
If you’re experiencing neck pain, memory foam might not be the first thought that pops into your head, when thinking about solutions. If you sleep on an old foam pillow, it might even facilitate your pains even further, by bending your neck in uncomfortable positions.
This is not something that you need to worry about with the memory foam pillow in question, though.
You see, Saatva’s pillow is going to conform around your head and neck, in a way that’ll keep your spine alignment straight, and not bend it either up or down. The pillow is made out of 100% CertiPUR-US memory foam and breathable organic cotton - in other words, only the highest-quality materials were used in the creation process.
Also, the foam core of the pillow is infused with cooling gel. This ensures that the pillow won’t get hot from your body as you sleep on it (there’s also graphite-infused foam, too - this promotes the cooling features of the product even further).
What is the Price of the Saatva Pillow?
Let’s take a look at the pricing options of the Saatva pillow:
While the product is, admittedly, a bit pricey, customers are going to tell you that the quality is definitely worth the price tag.
2. Layla - Best for Side Sleepers
Ranks #2 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Sleeps rather cool
- + Designed to be comfortable for most sleeping positions
- + Good breathability
- - A hassle to clean
- - Loft might be too high for some people
The Layla pillow is unique in that it mixes shredded memory foam stuffing together with kupak tree fibers.
What this mixture does is it creates an extra-soft feeling of comfort while you sleep on the pillow. That’s quite beneficial for anyone looking for the best pillow for neck pain - since Layla offers good neck and head support, it works well at alleviating pain throughout the night.
The Layla pillow also sleeps very cool - I’ve mentioned earlier that this isn’t that big of a surprise when it comes to the topic of “the best pillow for neck pain”, but it’s still a notable feature to be mentioned.
What is the Price of the Layla Pillow?
The pricing options for the Layla pillow are:
While it’s one of the more expensive pillows on the market, Layla also offers a 120-night money-back guarantee, and a 5-year warranty. Both of those time frames are pretty long - this means that the company really does stand behind their product!
3. Purple - Unique Pillow Filling Technology
Ranks #3 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Same technology (Smart Comfort Grid) in both the mattress and the Purple original pillow
- + Both pillows sleep cool
- + The original Purple pillow is very easy to clean
- - Original Purple is a heavy pillow
- - Single firmness option
If the name “Purple” sounds familiar to you, you’ve probably heard about the company’s mattresses - the so-called New Purple mattress is, without a single doubt, one of the most amazing and innovative products in the mattress industry. And believe me - that’s not an easy title to hold!
Purple has transferred their unique Smart Comfort Grid technology (that they use in their mattresses) onto their pillow products. Same as with Coop, we’ll focus on the Purple Pillow - the main-seller.
Anyone looking for the best pillow for neck pain is going to be very happy to hear that, because of the Purple’s above-mentioned unique technology, it’s a very shape-retaining pillow. If you need the best pillow for neck and shoulder pain, this is exactly what you should be looking for - pillows that sink in when you place your head on them won’t cut it.
Furthermore, in Purple’s staple fashion, the pillow is very cool to sleep on, and is moisture-resistant. The thought of waking up with a fever in the middle of the night, laying on a soaking wet pillow is one that can send shivers down many people’s spines - you shouldn’t encounter such problems with the Purple pillow, however.
What is the Price of the Purple Pillow?
Purple’s original pillow doesn’t have multiple sizing and pricing options. Given that the pillow is actually pretty big and heavy by default, this might either sway some customers away, or strengthen your belief that it’s the best pillow for neck pain out there.
The Purple pillow costs $99. It comes with a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping in the US and a 1-year warranty. That’s not a bad price, given the fact that Purple actually uses their special technology in the pillow’s design.
Did you know?
Compare Mattresses Side by Side With Others
All mattresses may look similar to you but they're NOT all the same!
Yes! Show me the Comparison Chart4. Coop Home Goods - An Amazing and Affordable Pillow
Ranks #4 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Sleeps cool
- + Stuffed with shredded memory foam
- + Multiple firmness options
- - Some initial odor might be present
- - Poor shape retention
Coop Home Goods is one of the better-known brands in the pillow world. “Better-known” might actually not even be the right term to use here - it’s a very popular pillow brand, whether we’d be talking about the best pillow for neck pain, shoulder pain, or even overall.
So, what makes Coop so popular? Well, you should note that there are two products that the company supplies that are, well… Beloved by its customers. However, just like in our “Best Pillows of 2023” review, we’ll be focusing on the company’s flagship product - the Coop Original.
Coop Original is a memory foam-based pillow. This means that the product adjusts to your neck and head while you sleep - whether you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, you shouldn’t catch yourself feeling uncomfortable in the middle of the night with the Coop Original.
That said, the pillow actually has adjustable filling - you can unzip it any time and add or remove stuffing to either make it fluffier or firmer. According to Coop “best pillow for neck pain” customer reviews, this is a great feature that will aid those that need their pillow to be just so perfectly firm or fluffy.
What is the Price of the Coop Original Pillow?
The Coop Original comes in two different pricing and sizing options:
Given the quality and fame of the product in question, you would expect the pillow to be quite costly. However, as you can see for yourself, that’s very far from being the case - the price tags of the Coop Original make the pillow very affordable!
5. Puffy - Suitable for All Types of Sleepers
Ranks #5 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Cool to sleep on
- + Good moldability
- + Best for back and side sleepers
- - Not the best shape retention
- - Might not suit some stomach sleepers
The Puffy pillow is a memory foam product that is considered to be suitable for all types of sleepers. What this means is that, no matter if you prefer sleeping on your sides or your stomach (or back!), the pillow is going to be able to adapt and conform to your head and neck, either way.
At first, this might sound a bit weird - it’s rare to encounter a product that would suit all types of sleepers, universally! However, this is thanks to the fact that you can take your Puffy pillow and either add or remove some of its foam insides, thus changing the way that it acts and conforms to your body as you sleep.
The Puffy pillow also features a machine-washable cover that’s both cool to lie on, and also hypoallergenic. Cooling is the key term here, though - the cover is made out of bamboo rayon, which is often considered to be one of the coolest materials to sleep on (it’s said that bamboo rayon provides better breathability features than even some cotton-based products!).
What is the Price of the Puffy Pillow?
The pricing options for the Puffy pillow are:
It’s also worth mentioning that, on top of everything, the Puffy pillow comes with a lifetime warranty - that’s amazing! You do, naturally, also receive a 101-night sleep trial, and free, no-contact delivery.
6. PlushBeds - A Solid Latex Pillow
Ranks #6 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Responsive
- + Solid organic latex
- + Breathable, good cooling
- + Great body-contouring features
- - Might be too soft for some
- - Difficult-to-contact customer support
While PlushBeds offers its customers a rather wide assortment of different sleep-related products (pillows included). For anyone who’s concerned with their health and is looking for the best pillow for neck pain, the Solid Natural Latex Pillow might just be the best choice.
Emphasis on the term “solid” there - while there are some shredded latex options available, too, neck pain sufferers should consider getting themselves the solid option, simply because it’s going to be better at retaining its shape and keeping your head in a stable position.
On top of that, you can expect that solid latex pillow sold by PlushBeds to be amazing at maintaining optimal temperature neutrality all throughout the night, thanks to the natural heat-resistant properties of latex.
PlushBeds also emphasize that the pillow is “springy” - it cradles your head, but does not allow it to sink down too low. Furthermore, the pillow is going to be responsive - it’ll adapt to the shape of your head, thus helping you maintain proper body alignment all throughout your sleep.
What is the Price of the PlushBeds Pillow?
The PlushBeds solid latex pillow features three pricing and sizing options:
You can also expect to receive free shipping, and a 3-year warranty.
7. Mediflow - A Water-Based Pillow
Ranks #7 out of 7 Mattresses
- + Adjustable loft height
- + Customizable filling
- + Cool to sleep on
- - Heavy
- - Might not suit stomach sleepers
The Mediflow Waterbase pillow is one of the more interesting products in the “best pillow for neck pain” market. That being said, this pillow is the perfect example of how standing out of the crowd and being unique can skyrocket you to the very top.
You see, just as the name implies, the Mediflow product is a water-based pillow - at the very center of it, there’s a special water chamber installed, covered with a rather thick layer of polyester. At first, this might seem odd or even counterproductive, but user best pillow for neck and shoulder pain reviews are almost unanimous - it’s an amazing product.
The way that the pillow works (never thought that’s something that I’d ever say) is that once you purchase it, you can fill or empty the before-mentioned water chamber as much as you’d like. This allows you to be in full control over creating the perfect comfort level for your neck, head and shoulders.
That’s where the whole secret of it lies, too - the best pillow for neck pain will be the one that has the perfect support level for your neck and head while you sleep. There are many different pillows out there that allow you to adjust the stuffing and thus change the height (and firmness) of the product.
That said, you’ll never be able to get as specific as with the Mediflow Waterbase pillow.
On top of being a unique and very flexible product, Mediflow does come with all of the other, more general benefits, too. It’s dressed in a 100% cotton cover - that makes the pillow even cooler to sleep on, which will be heavily appreciated by all of the hot sleepers out there.
Also, many customer “best pillow for neck pain” reviews note that the product is actually large - it’s both bigger in size and quite heavy when compared to other, similar pillow on the market. While this might come across as a nuisance at first, it’s actually a great feature in disguise - it’s going to provide the sleeper with an extra added layer of comfort and support.
What is the Price of the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow?
While there are a few different choices when it comes to the water pillow (a down alternative, different fibers, etc.), we’re going to focus on the main, flagship product.
Given the reputation and the general popularity of the Mediflow Water pillow, you’d expect it to be quite costly. However, price is actually one of the things that customers that write best pillow for neck pain reviews are most happy about.
The Mediflow Water pillow costs $69,99 for the original price, but as of writing this “best pillow for neck and shoulder pain” article, there seems to be a promotion going on - the current price of the pillow is $44,95. Yup, the price really is that good.
Here is The Best Saatva Offer I Found:
UP TO $500 OFF
Limited-time Saatva Sale
We're sharing a limited-time Saatva mattress discount with our readers! Grab this deal & enjoy your new mattress with huge discounts.
Conclusions
So - these are the options for the spot of the best pillow for neck pain. The ultimate choice is still going to depend on your own personal wants and needs, but you can rest assured that all of the pillows mentioned on this list are going to work great at alleviating neck and shoulder pain.
I hope the list was useful to you, and that you’ve managed to develop an interest in at least one of the pillows mentioned in the article! Thanks for reading, and good luck with finding the best pillow for neck pain for yourself!
Other Less Favoured Mattresses in This Category
Here are other mattresses related to the category but not as favoured by MyBestMattress readers yet. In my personal opinion, today there are much more optimal mattresses in the list with the higher rating that I'd recommend for the same price range or less.
MyPillow - The "World's Most Comfortable Pillow"
- + Affordable pricing
- + Suits different types of sleepers
- + Sleeps rather cool
- - False advertising lawsuit history
- - Poor shape retention
- - Some initial odors
MyPillow proudly claims to provide customers with the “world’s most comfortable pillow”. Well, while there are plenty of “best pillows for neck pain” reviews out there that would beg to differ, many people do seem to agree with this notion.
With MyPillow, you’re able to adjust the firmness and stuffing of the pillow at any time that you’d like. The pillow also sleeps fairly cool, which is both rare and appreciated - while it’s not that big of a deal with most top-tier pillows, you would be surprised just how many companies aren’t able to make their pillows sleep cool.
The one thing that might bug some people is the fact that the pillow seems to flatten relatively easily. Admittedly, while that might not be an issue as far as comfort is concerned (which I still highly doubt), it’s definitely not ideal as far as the best pillows for neck pain are concerned.
You see, the whole point of finding the best pillow for neck support is for it to be, well… Supportive for your neck and head. If the pillow tends to flatten, it kind of beats the entire purpose, doesn’t it?
Even so, though, many customers still claim that MyPillow is one of the better alternatives for neck and shoulder pain around.
What is the Price of the MyPillow Classic Pillow?
The MyPillow Classic pillow comes with a few different firmness and sizing options.
Basically, you’ll have two choices as far as sizing is concerned - Queen and King. Both of these sizes come in 4 different firmness settings, ranging from the least firm (yellow) all the way to the most firm (blue). The prices are, as follows:
- Queen - $69,98
- King - $79,98
All things considered, those are some pretty decent price tags!
Contributed By Tsao-Lin E. Moy, Licensed Acupuncturist & Certified Chinese Herbalist
Tsao-Lin has over 18 years of experience as an expert in alternative and Chinese medicine. She is licensed in Acupuncture and holds a Master in Oriental Medicine. She is the founder of Integrative ...
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