Getting a good night’s sleep starts with the basics, like the right mattress, sheets, blankets and, yes, pillow for you. There are a lot of options out there, from established brands you can find on the big sites to startups you see advertising the latest in pillow innovation on Instagram and Facebook, and it can get overwhelming.
“Sleep is when the body restores itself,” says Dr. Blake Dircksen, doctor of physical therapy at Bespoke Treatments. “Our circadian rhythms coordinate a symphony of hormones, brain waves and bodily processes that facilitate growth, learning and repair. If the quality of sleep is impaired, so too is that restorative process.”
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“Chronic back and neck pain can develop simply by sleeping in a position that doesn’t support our natural spinal curves,” added Derrell Blackburn, senior manager of chiropractic relations and training for The Joint Chiropractic. “Although we all have our own preferences when it comes to firm or soft pillows, it is important to keep in mind how that pillow will affect a great night’s sleep and the long-term health effects.”
Of course, Blackburn emphasizes, “The quality of your sleep is always more important than the type of pillow you are using.”
Thankfully, if you’re not sure where or how to rest your head tonight, we’ve got some answers from experts for all types of sleepers, including different sleeping positions, hot sleepers, pregnant sleepers and many more.
Keeping your head up and your spine straight is key here, says Blackburn. “For side sleepers, to protect your spine, the most important consideration is the width of your shoulder,” he says. “You want a pillow that is the same width of your shoulder so your spine remains neutral throughout the night.”
Brooklinen Down Pillow (starting at $62.10, originally starting at $69; brooklinen.com)
Brooklinen Down Pillow
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Brooklinen
With three choices — plush, mid-plush and firm — you’ll be sure to find the right plushness to keep your spine straight, and it’s available in two sizes.
Loft Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow (starting at $49.99; amazon.com)
Loft Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow
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Amazon
Perfect for side sleepers with allergies, this made-in-the-USA foam pillow is a shopper favorite.
Wamsutta Extra Firm Side Sleeper Pillow ($22.69, originally $24.39; amazon.com)
Wamsutta Extra Firm Side Sleeper Pillow
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Amazon
One of the best values in this story, this side sleeper pillow offers extra firm support to deliver your best night’s sleep.
“For stomach sleepers, the pillow considerations will be similar to the back sleepers because you don’t want your head elevated, so a flatter pillow is ideal,” explains Blackburn. “A key consideration for stomach sleepers is which side your head is turned to. Although 90 degrees rotation is natural, you do not want your head turned one way for an extended period of time, so switching which side your head is turned is important.”
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper Thin Natural Latex Foam Pillow ($41.96; amazon.com)
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper Thin Natural Latex Foam Pillow
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Amazon
At just 2.75 inches in height, this pillow is one of the slimmest pillows on the market. As one reviewer raves, “If you are like me and as a side sleeper and back sleeper prefer to have your spine stay in alignment rather than your neck being bent all night, this pillow is amazing.”
Dreaming Wapiti Pillows for Sleeping, 2-Pack ($39.99, originally $49.99; amazon.com)
Dreaming Wapiti Pillows for Sleeping, 2-Pack
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Amazon
Customers are encouraged to take out portions of this pillow’s shredded memory foam stuffing to get exactly the right amount. For stomach sleepers, that means taking out 50%.
Blackburn says back sleepers should stick to the most natural position possible. “When sleeping on your back, it can help to keep the head, neck and spine aligned and in a neutral position, with one pillow that is practically flat so our head isn’t elevated for an extended period of time,” he says.
Parachute Home Down Pillow (starting at $89; parachutehome.com)
Parachute Home Down Pillow
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Parachute
“Finally, the perfect soft pillow,” raves one reviewer of this super soft pillow, which is filled with European white down that gives it a supportive yet airy quality.
Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow (starting at $75; amazon.com)
Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow
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Amazon
This flatter model foam pillow is just as supportive and soft, and is designed to sleep cool.
Original Casper Pillow (starting at $65; casper.com)
Original Casper Pillow
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Casper
Both soft and firm, the first pillow from the original direct-to-consumer sleep brand is a highly rated shopper favorite.
“As the pregnancy progresses, there are biomechanical or structural changes to support the changes in posture and in preparation for labor,” says Blackburn. “Therefore, along with a pillow for the neck to keep the spine neutral, you want to have a pillow between the knees while side sleeping that keeps the pelvis as neutral as possible, reducing any prolonged strain or tension on the sacroiliac joints.”
Coop Home Goods Adjustable Body Pillow ($69.99; amazon.com)
Coop Home Goods Adjustable Body Pillow
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Amazon
With squishy support and a breathable cover, this body pillow is the perfect pregnancy companion.
Snoogle Chic Full Body Pregnancy Support Pillow ($65.99; nordstrom.com)
Snoogle Chic Full Body Pregnancy Support Pillow
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Nordstrom
“Best sleep ever,” raves one reviewer. “I highly recommend this pillow and think I would still enjoy it even if I wasn’t pregnant.”
Moonlight Comfort-U Total Body Pregnancy Support Pillow ($99.95; amazon.com)
Moonlight Comfort-U Total Body Pregnancy Support Pillow
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Amazon
This US-made pillow earns high praise on Amazon, with one shopper writing, “This pillow absolutely changed how I sleep, and I loved it enough that I bought two.”
ComfySure Full Body Pregnancy Pillow ($29.99, originally $39.99; amazon.com)
ComfySure Full Body Pregnancy Pillow
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Amazon
This super long body pillow offers support for pregnancy and breastfeeding, with one reviewer writing, “It instantly made me feel comfortable, like I didn’t have to haul my whole body around 17 times to try to get comfortable enough to sleep.”
Ever arrived at a relative’s house or rental cabin and found that your trip was nearly ruined by poor night’s sleep due to terrible pillows? Pack one of these and sleep comfortably all night long.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow (starting at $24.95; amazon.com)
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow
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Amazon
Perfect for trips where you’ll be stopping in multiple locations, this high-rated pillow gives you the perfect place to lay your head, and it’s a cinch to pack.
AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow With Luxuriously Soft Washable Cover (starting at $21.99; amazon.com)
AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow With Luxuriously Soft Washable Cover
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Amazon
In need of extra lumbar support on those long trips? This inflatable number — that shrinks to the size of a deck of cards — will keep your back pain-free while you nod off.
Nemo Fillo Pillow ($39.95; rei.com)
Nemo Fillo Pillow
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REI
You don’t have to give up comfort when you’re roughing it with this top-rated camping pillow that packs as “small as a potato.”
Long-haul car trips may be a thing for a while now, and there’s nothing worse than falling asleep in the passenger seat without neck support. If you’ve suffered from these aches and pains, try a neck-supporting travel pillow for your next road trip.
Trtl Pillow Plus Travel Pillow ($59.99; amazon.com)
Trtl Pillow Plus Travel Pillow
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Amazon
Beloved by frequent fliers, this is more of a supportive wrap that has an adjustable neck support, and this highly rated version features a breathable mesh wrap.
Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow & Neck Pillow ($25.95; amazon.com)
Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow & Neck Pillow
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Amazon
This odd-looking neck pillow attaches to your seat belt, holding it in place for an extremely comfortable nap. Bonus? The top-rated sleep aid rolls up for easy packing.
Clairmont Women’s Packable Travel Puffer Jacket ($195; tumi.com)
Clairmont Women’s Packable Travel Puffer Jacket
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Tumi
Packing light? This travel puffer packs away into a traditional horseshoe-style travel neck pillow and comes in three colors.
Cooling pillows for hot sleepers come in a variety of materials like shredded foam, gels and cotton. Look for one that holds in coolness and wicks away moisture.
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow (starting at $29.99; amazon.com)
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
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Amazon
This well-priced, high-rated foam pillow is infused with a temperature-regulating gel for a cool night’s sleep.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow (starting at $164.06, originally starting at $209; amazon.com)
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow
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Amazon
From the experts at Tempur-Pedic comes this cooling pillow with gel on both sides to keep you cool all night long.
Snuggle-Pedic Original Ultra Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow (starting at $49.99; amazon.com)
Snuggle-Pedic Original Ultra Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
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Amazon
The bamboo cover and shredded memory foam make this pillow super breathable, with one happy reviewer writing, “I normally toss and turn all night. I don’t think I’ve moved much since I started using the pillow; it’s absolutely wonderful.”
Down pillows are loved by many for their softness, support and versatility. Whether you like them overstuffed or almost flat, unless you’re an allergy sufferer, there’s a down pillow for almost every sleep style.
Bicor Featherfull Feather and Down Standard Pillows, 4-Pack ($63.99, originally $82.99; wayfair.com)
Bicor Featherfull Feather and Down Standard Pillows, 4-Pack
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Wayfair
This set contains four pillows, meaning they come out to about $16 each in this sale. What’s not to like about that?
Alwyn Home Amy Duck Soft Down and Feather Standard Pillows, 2-Pack ($34.99; wayfair.com)
Alwyn Home Amy Duck Soft Down and Feather Standard Pillows, 2-Pack
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Wayfair
“Exactly what [I’ve] been looking for, not too hard or too soft. Had neck pain but with these pillows no more neck pain,” raves one reviewer of this well-priced down pillow set.
For allergy sufferers, and those who love a firm pillow, memory foam is a great alternative to down. They come shredded or solid, and there’s definitely one for every type of sleeper.
Nest Bedding Easy Breather Adjustable Bedding Pillow (starting at $99; nestbedding.com)
Nest Bedding Easy Breather Adjustable Bedding Pillow
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Nest Bedding
This pillow from Nest is one of the top-rated pillows online, with reviewers raving about the “moldable” shredded foam and “amazingly firm” support.
Alwyn Home Encased Shredded Memory Foam Medium Support Cooling Pillow ($34.99, originally $99.99; wayfair.com)
Alwyn Home Encased Shredded Memory Foam Medium Support Cooling Pillow
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Wayfair
Designed to form to the contours of your head for comfort, this hypoallergenic pillow provides medium-firm support.
Some of us need extra hip, stomach and knee support to get through the night, and some people just like a big huggable pillow. No matter why you want one, we found some of the best on the market.
Rest Right Body Pillow ($12.74, originally $29.99; kohls.com)
Rest Right Body Pillow
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Kohls
This well-priced body pillow, available in multiple colors, receives high marks from shoppers.
Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Body Pillow ($69.99; amazon.com)
Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Body Pillow
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Amazon
This snuggly pillow is an Amazon shopper favorite, with one shopper writing, “I gave this pillow to my husband for Christmas, as he needed more comfort when he slept due to some alignment issues with his knee. He LOVES the pillow.”
Dircksen suggests avoiding softer pillows if you’ve got neck or back pain, explaining, “Sometimes neck and back pain can be mechanical, meaning that the position you’re in can determine the degree of discomfort you’re feeling. As a general rule, it’s important to keep the spine (neck and back) in as neutral a position as possible.
“This may be why foam and latex pillows outperform the feather pillows in research studies when measuring sleep quality,” he continues. “A feather pillow generally loses its shape as you put your head on it, which will result in a slight bend of the neck and subsequent compression.”
Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow (starting at $69.99; amazon.com)
Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow
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Amazon
Achieve your perfect pillow by adding or removing the shredded memory foam.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ergo Neck Pillow (starting at $87.42, originally starting at $99; amazon.com)
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ergo Neck Pillow
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Amazon
Shaped to fit the natural curve of your neck, this allows for ideal back and neck support while you snooze.
When you’re sleeping, your airways can relax and the walls of your throat can vibrate, which can cause snoring. A pillow that puts your head in a better position can really help reduce snoring. Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure you don’t have sleep apnea or another condition.
Uttu Sandwich Pillow ($39.99, originally $59.99; amazon.com)
Uttu Sandwich Pillow
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Amazon
This pillow raises your head and keeps it in place, preventing your neck and airways from relaxing.
Abco Tech Bed Wedge Pillow With Memory Foam Top ($29.97; amazon.com)
Abco Tech Bed Wedge Pillow With Memory Foam Top
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Amazon
This hypoallergenic wedge pillow provides a gentle inclination that reduces acid reflux, gerd, heartburn, snoring and respiratory issues.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers’ listed prices at the time of publication.