In our best pillows for neck pain reviews 2020 we shall present you with 10 of the best cervical pillows we have been able to source. There are many causes for neck pain, and the more common of these will be discussed shortly. Our best 10 have been chosen for their ergonomic cervical support properties.
Most people purchase their pillows for their comfort properties. They pay little attention to ergonomics. One of the best ways to avoid neck pain is to sleep with your neck in a straight line with your head and back when viewed from the front or the back. However, when viewed from the side, your neck has a bend that your pillow should be able to maintain.
More on this later. For now, here are our top 10 pillows for neck pain, otherwise known as cervical pillows. Most of these pillows are not of regular size (Queen, King, etc.). The dimensions stated are average, or for the king size where appropriate. Other sizes are available as stated in the individual reviews. We have not generally stated any thickness measurement other than where relevant. An 8″ thick soft mattress can offer less support than 5″ firm mattress!
Table of Contents
Best Pillows for Neck Pain Reviews 2019
* The memory foam is shredded to enable you to remove some filling through the zippered cover, or pack more in to reduce or increase the hardness and support of the pillow to meet your needs.
1. Coop Home Goods Premium - Best Adjustable Cervical Pillow
The Coop Home Goods Premium pillow is a high-quality cervical pillow that supports your head and neck to enable them to remain in a natural position while you sleep. It prevents pressure being applied to your cervical vertebrae to the extent that their natural orientation is compromised. It has been manufactured using what is known as 'shredded memory foam' technology. You can read more about this later in this review.
While you are using it, the Coop Home Goods Premium pillow offers good support. It also enables you to change its feel by thinning it out or fluffing it up.
You can adjust its level of support in two major ways:
- You can simulate the breathability and lushness of a good down pillow, while also providing the plushness of a high-quality down pillow.
- You may also reproduce the support that memory foam offers. You will read about cervical kyphosis in our Buyer's Guide later.
Here are some of the more salient features of the Coop Home Goods Premium pillow.
Editor's Notes: This is our top choice because the high level of air flow through this orthopedic pillow helps to keep you cool at night. Shredded foam has a lot more air in it than solid memory foam. A survey of users indicates that those who sleep on their backs or stomach love this pillow. It is suitable for side sleepers, who may want to adjust the loft of the Coop Home Goods Premium pillow to their personal preference. This is one advantage that this pillow has over most others.
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2. XTreme Comforts Memory Foam Pillow - Good for Air Circulation
The XTreme Comforts memory foam pillow is suitable for all sleeping positions. You can use the inner zipper to add or remove shredded memory foam to adjust its thickness or level of support. Many people prefer shredded foam to solid foam for this reason. Another reason for using it is that shredded foam allows more air circulation than a solid foam does. Find out more about shredded memory foam in our Buyer Guide later.
The XTreme Comforts memory foam pillow is similar to the Coop Home Goods Premium pillow above. It is difficult to choose between the two, and the Coop pillow just edged it. The 'Pros' below could be extended by adding those above, for the Coop Home Goods pillow. The cover is 56.4% polyester, 43% bamboo rayon and 0.6% lycra (spandex).
Sleeping Positions:
Editor's Notes: When reading mattress or pillow reviews, you must keep an open mind. Many people have an aversion to certain manufacturers or retailers. Others are unaware of the technical terms used. This memory foam pillow generally gets good reviews, although many people seem unaware of the benefits that shredded foams can offer. Memory foam does not lose its ability to recover from compression just because it is in the form of a thick slab. The XTreme Comforts memory foam pillow is one of the best pillows for neck pain that can buy today!
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3. Tri-Core Pillow - Good for Neck Support
The Tri-Core pillow supports your neck in its natural position. This helps your spine to be correctly oriented, and so help to prevent neck pain. In many cases, switching to the Tri-Core pillow can relieve your back or neck pain completely.
Its design may have a lot to do with this. The center of the pillow is a trapezoid shape, and, when combined with the neck roll that is built into it, the neck is properly supported with a significant reduction in neck pain. It can also help to prevent further pain in those already suffering from pain in their neck due to sleeping on the wrong surface or in the wrong position.
This pillow is not sized as normal (Queen, King, etc.) Instead it comes in three sizes that should suit just about everybody:
Editors Notes: This pillow cradles your head while at the same time supporting your neck. The built-in neck rolls keep your neck supported, rather than it sinking down to the level of a regular pillow. The pillow is also designed with side lobes that are intended to support the neck of side sleepers. The sizing is unusual in that it is not based upon a specific size of mattress. Three sizes are available that between them should suit all users. This is an excellent buy if you suffer neck pain.
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4. Medium Profile Memory Foam Neck Pillow - Best for Neck Support
Manufactured by US company Perform Pillow, this is a pillow specifically designed for neck support. The foam and the pillow design were chosen by a chiropractor to support your neck comfortably and help you sleep soundly while keeping your neck correctly aligned with the rest of your spine. It has a rounded pad at one side for your neck to test on, and a thinner pad at the other if you prefer less of a pad below your neck. You can rotate the pillow (not flip) to use either pad according to your needs.
It is suitable for back and side sleepers, for whom it provides maximum support for the neck and helps to prevent neck pain, or alleviate it if you already suffer this type of disability. It does not mention stomach sleepers since many chiropractors believe you should not sleep on your stomach.
Editor's Notes: This appears to be a well-designed pillow offering excellent neck support. It supports the curve of your neck between your shoulders and your head, and so reduces stress on the cervical portion of your spine. By a supporting your neck, it helps to keep your spine straight for side sleepers (when viewed straight on from front or back). It also helps maintain then natural kyphotic curve of your spine in the cervical (neck) region. Like all pillows that are good for your neck and spine, it helps to keep your neck in its natural shape.
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5. Nature's Guest Cervical Support Pillow - With Adjustable Neck Roll
The Nature's Guest cervical support pillow comes with an adjustable 5-inch thick neck roll and a 5.5 inch thick side areas. It provides excellent neck support for back and side sleepers. The pillow is shipped containing the optimum amount of filling which can be adjusted through the zippers each side.
A patent is pending on the contoured design of the pillow, which is ideal for back sleepers including those who switch between sleeping on their back and their side. The pillow has a microfiber filling.
Customization:
Editor's Notes: A drawback with the Nature's Guest cervical support pillow is that it is available only in one size - Queen. It is recommended by doctors and chiropractors for optimum cervical support. If you suffer from neck pain, or your neck feels stiff when you waken up each morning, then give this a try. It is easy to return the pillow within 90 days if you don't like the design: the firm accepts returns with no questions asked. The company donates 10% of profits to global humanitarian relief.
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6. Mediflow Waterbase Pillow - Hydraulic Neck Support
The Mediflow Water Pillow Is constructed with a top layer of soft material that you can choose yourself. You can choose between down, fiber or memory foam. This is supported by a water layer at the bottom. You can change the firmness of your pillow by adding or removing water until you reach your preferred level of hardness.
Fluffing up or restuffing with fiber is not necessary, because the hardness of your pillow is determined by the amount of water in the bottom (support) layer. The soft pillow covering is around 1.5 inches thick, then you can add water to the bottom layer to make it as thick as you want it.
The Johns Hopkins school of medicine has clinically tested the Mediflow Waterbase pillow. It determined that this pillow is effective in providing a good quality of sleep, and helping to reduce neck pain. The bottom water layer provides support for your head and neck throughout the night, no matter how much you change your sleeping position.
Editor's Notes: This pillow can be machine washed on a cool or delicate cycle, and tumble dried on a low heat setting. Some buyers may be concerned about old - simply add a few drops of bleach when filling and the problem won't exist. The Mediflow Waterbase pillow ranks among the best pillows for nick pain since you can adjust its hardness and thickness to your own personal preference.
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7. Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Contour Pillow - Best 100% Memory Foam Pillow
The Sleep Innovations memory foam contour pillow is an orthopedic pillow designed for neck support and to keep your neck and spine in correct alignment. It has two neck rolls (4.5″ high and 5.5″) which you can choose between by rotating the pillow (not flipping it.)
The high-quality memory foam (solid, not shredded) provides excellent support for your head and neck, and
also your shoulders if necessary. As you move your head on the pillow, the memory foam you were lying on returns to its original position, and your head and neck are supported on the new area of pillow. As stated above, you can use the neck contour you prefer best.
This memory foam orthopedic pillow comes in three sizes:
- Queen: 24″ x 15″
- Standard: 20.8″ x 14.2″
- Travel: 15″ x 10″
Editor's Notes: This pillow has a therapeutic design intended to support your head and neck, and not allow either to sag. By supporting your neck and your head in their correct positions, it can not only help to prevent any future neck pain but also alleviate any pain already there. This is not only a cervical pillow, but one of the best pillows for neck pain on the market.
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8. Classic Brands Conforma Memory Foam Cervical Pillow - Well Ventilated Cervical PIllow
The Classic Brands Conforma is a Cervical pillow that appears to be good for back and side sleepers. It is made using ventilated memory foam: a form of memory foam with ventilation holes running through it. This helps to keep the pillow cool during the night. Although ideal for side and back sleepers, it is a good pillow for anyone, whether they need a cervical pillow or not.
This pillow is available in Queen (27″ x 16″) and King (33″ x 16″) sizes.
Editor's Notes: This cervical pillow is one of the best pillows for neck pain that is based on memory foam. The ventilation in this memory foam makes it one of the coolest pillows we have tested. If you tend to switch between back and side sleeping, then this would be a good choice.
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9. Chiroflow Premium Waterbase Pillow - Good Head to Neck Orientation
This pillow is similar to the Mediflow Pillow in that it has a water layer beneath the main comfort layer. The water layer offer support, and adjusts its support as your head moves on the pillow - even from side to back to side sleeping. It keeps your head and neck in the correct orientation in relation to the main part of your spine. This is an option to the Mediflow that some prefer - but not all.
Editor's Notes: The Chiroflow Premium Waterbase Pillow is not quite a unique Solution to neck pain while sleeping - but not far off it. It is a solution that many might prefer to using memory foams or fiber-filled pillows. You can be sure on one thing - many that have used this type of pillow will never use another. On the other hand, some use it again. Son it's personal preference. Unfortunately the vendors of such cervical and orthopedic pillows tend not to give "Keep or Return" guarantees.
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10. TEMPUR-Neck Pillow by TEMPUR-Pedic - Good Ergonomic Shape
The TEMPUR-Neck Pillow would be expected to get rave reviews, being marketed by Tempur-Pedic. However is not as easy as that - irrespective of the pedigree, it still has to earn the accolade! The design of the pillow is similar to some of those above, with an ergonomic shape to support the head and neck in their correct positions relative to the rest of your spine.
As with most ergonomic cervical pillows, it is designed for back and side sleepers. Stomach sleepers are more difficult to accommodate with orthopedic pillows due to the way the neck rests in relation to the rest of the spine. Stomach sleepers are best with a thin pillow that keeps their neck as low as possible when sleeping face down.
The three sizes available are:
- Firm, small pillow measures 20″ L x 12″ W x 3″ H
- Firm, medium pillow measures 20″ L x 12″ W x 4″ H
- Firm, travel pillow measures 10″ L x 12″ W x 4″ H
Editor's Notes: TEMPUR-Pedic has a good name in the orthopedic pillow and mattress industry. However, the company may have been focusing its main development into mattresses. The TEMPUR-Neck Pillow is a good cervical pillow by any standards, although some users have been complaining about the chemical smell lately. This may be a personal thing since we have found no such odor in our research.
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That said, there are many mattresses above which can more than compete with the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow. There is nothing wrong with it, but competitors are rapidly catching up on the big guys and it may not be too long before they surpass them if the big guys fail to respond.
Buyer's Guide to the Best Pillows for Neck Pain
When buying a pillow for neck pain it is important to understand what causes it. When viewed from the front or back, your neck and the rest of your spine forms a straight line from top to bottom. When viewed from the side, however, the seven vertebrae that comprise your neck form a curve. When this curve is lost or even reduced, you can feel pain.
Many people experience neck pain due to the loss of this natural curve, known as cervical kyphosis. It is fairly common condition caused by bad posture - or by sleeping with your neck in the wrong position in relation to your spine. This issue can often be corrected by changing your pillow to one that helps maintain the correct position of your neck in relation to your head and back.
Choosing the Best Cervical Pillow for Neck Pain
The term 'cervical pillow' simply means a pillow that supports your neck - or the vertebrae that make up your neck. The best cervical pillow for neck pain is one that not only supports your neck but also your head. That way, your head, and neck are supported in their correct position relative to your upper spine. Any neck pain you already have should then disappear. This is true whether you lie on your back or your side. It is when you are asleep that your neck can get out of position, and a good cervical pillow is necessary to avoid this. They are also referred to as orthopedic pillows.
Memory Foam: A memory foam pillow is one good option. The memory foam softens with the pressure of your head and shoulders, allowing them to sink slightly and be supported, while the curvature of your neck is also supported and maintained. A pillow suitable for this should not be solid hard but should have some give to allow the head to relax into it. Otherwise, the head and shoulders would lie on the pillow and your neck would sink downwards - leading to neck pain. Just what you want to avoid!
Water Pillows: Other types of orthopedic pillow use water as a support layer. This water layer adjusts to maintain the correct position of your head and neck when you move in bed. Such water pillows are generally designed with a top layer of foam or fiber, with the bottom layer comprising a water-filled bladder. The amount of water used can be adjusted to change the level of hardness and support provided by such cervical pillows.
Shredded Foam or Fibers: Yet another type is filled with a microfiber or shredded memory foam. You can adjust the filling in some of these pillows to make it harder or softer according to your personal preference. We have included examples of each of these types of cervical pillow in our review. Shredded memory foam possesses some of the properties of the solid foam. When compressed, the shredded foam portions spring back to their original state when the pressure is released.
There is not a lot in deciding on the best pillows for neck pain. The best neck pillow will be one that supports your head and also supports your neck, preventing your neck from sagging and losing its natural curve. This is true whether you lie on your back or your side.
Stomach Sleepers: If you sleep on your stomach then an orthopedic pillow will not help you much. This position can strain your neck. Unless you can breathe through the pillow, stomach sleepers have to turn their head to one side, thus rotating their neck to an unnatural position in relation to their spine. Side sleepers are OK because their spine is in the correct position relative to the neck. If you sleep on your stomach, you would likely be better with no pillow, or just a very thin pillow - and placing a pillow under your pelvis would put your back into a more natural position and take the pressure off your spine.