The 9 Best Pillows For Every Type of Neck Pain

For most people, neck pain isn’t caused by how they sleep. But the right pillow can keep the time you spend in bed from exacerbating that pain. Neck pain often comes from what happens during the day: Bad posture, sitting for hours on end, hunching over your phone, and generally stressing the muscles that hold up your head. (If this sounds like you, learn how to improve your posture and embrace the best exercises for neck pain relief.) By the time you lay down for the night, you’ve likely already put a heavy burden on your neck.

Persistent neck pain can rob you of much-needed sleep. “Pillows provide optimal support from the shoulders up, and they play an important role in proper spinal alignment and comfort while you’re sleeping,” says Peter Polos, M.D., an associate professor of sleep medicine at Hackensack JFK Medical Center in New Jersey and sleep expert for Sleep Number. “They also help open your airways and reduce snoring at night. If you have neck discomfort and find yourself waking up because of it, you might want to consider trying a new pillow.

The right pillow, whether you’re a side, stomach or back sleeper, keeps your neck in a neutral position, aligned with your spine in a way that doesn’t cause stress. It’s basic ergonomics, really—along with the right mattress, the right pillow supports your head, leaving your muscles relaxed while you sleep.

Finding the right pillow for your neck pain depends on your sleep style. (Don’t worry too much about the material; as long as it provides enough support, it doesn’t matter whether your pillow is memory foam, bamboo, or something else—though down tends to be too fluffy to help.) “There is no one-size-fits-all pillow; it’s important to choose one that is supportive and comfortable for your sleep needs,” Dr. Polos says. “For example, back and side sleepers should look for a pillow that aligns their neck and spine properly, as a pillow that’s too high or too low can cause neck discomfort.”

Below, we’ve selected nine of the best pillows for neck pain to help you make your decision. And just in case you need to complete your bedroom setup, we also pulled together the best sleep products in our 2022 Men’s Health Sleep Awards—check those out as you shop for your next snooze.

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