The best pillows for neck pain (2024)

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Whether you’re looking to upgrade your sleep, relieve neck aches or just grab something that goes with one of the best mattresses in Canada, our list of the best pillows for neck pain is sure to satisfy. We focused on affordable, Amazon-ready picks with doctor-approved materials and construction. If you’re looking for more of our favourites, these have been proven for every sleeping style out there.

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What to look for in the best pillows

“Having the right pillow props our neck into a supported position throughout the night,” explains Dr. Anna Di, a chiropractor specializing in spinal care. “Your pillow should not cause pain throughout the night or when you wake up.” She suggests identifying which type of sleeper you are first, then narrowing down fill heights and materials based on that.

• Back sleepers: “Look for a pillow that is not so high or overfilled that the head juts forward, or so low and underfilled that the chin juts forward without support at the curve of the neck.” Generally speaking, back sleepers benefit from medium-fill pillows with varying degrees of firmness. Materials like memory foam are especially supportive for those who tend to shift in their sleep.
• Side sleepers: “A pillow that has a structured shape is going to be better for side sleepers, because then no matter which end of the pillow you are sleeping in, the shape stays the same,” says Di. Side sleepers are particularly prone to aches and discomfort, which is why finding one of the best pillows for neck pain is so important.
• Combination sleepers: If you tend to move around in your sleep and shift throughout the night, consider a customizable pillow so you can adjust your sleep experience as needed.

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Then, consider fill types like:

• Memory foam: “A memory foam pillow props the neck into a good position and won’t lose its shape throughout the night.” Choose from solid foam-filled options to gel-style shreds meant to dispel heat and cool the head and neck.
• Synthetic down alternatives or natural down: These offer softer, fluffier cushioning and a classic sleep experience that has stood the test of time. Down and down alternatives are typically adjustable and customizable, making these particularly great for back sleepers and combination sleepers. These pillows are also the most easily machine-washed.
• Plant-based hulls: If you’re searching for an organic sleep experience, plant-based hulls are a great way to get the support you’re looking for without any synthetic materials, latex products or petrochemicals.

The best pillows for neck pain 2024

• Best overall: Viewstar Hypoallergenic Hotel Pillows
• Best budget: Sherwood Supportive Pillow Two-Pack
• Best for side sleepers: Honeydew Curve Pillow
• Best for back sleepers: Memory Foam Cervical Neck Pillow
• Best organic: ComfyComfy Organic Buckwheat Pillow
• Best down alternative: Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Pillows
• Best cooling: Shredded Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
• Best pregnancy pillow: Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow

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Best overall: Viewstar Hypoallergenic Hotel Pillows

We fell in love with the soft, lightweight feel of these supportive pillows that cradle side, back and combination sleepers with ease. These come in convenient two-packs that are both affordable and practical. The silky-smooth covers and hypoallergenic fill made it through several rounds of machine washing in our home.

Adults, kids and frequent snorers called these “comfortable clouds” and “worth every penny.” Amazon shoppers agree because these have raked in over 50,000 customer ratings and an impressive 4.3-star average.

Pros

• Ideal for every type of sleeper and relieves moderate neck pain
• Hypoallergenic fill
• Silky-smooth cover
• Affordable two-pack under $50
• Conforming design is great for alleviating neck aches and pain
• Machine washable
• Top-rated

Cons

• May be a bit too fluffy and cloud-like if you prefer an extra-firm pillow

Best budget: Sherwood Supportive Pillow Two-Pack

At about $30 for a two-pack of incredibly supportive pillows, these Sherwood beauties are our top pick for the budget-friendly spot on our list of the best pillows in Canada. Medium-firm hypoallergenic fill promises a comfortable sleep, while the stain-resistant white cover ensures years of clean, hygienic use.

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These are also suitable for machine washing with cold water. We love that shipping is fast and free for Prime members. If you don’t already have a membership, try 30 days free on us by clicking here.

Pros

• Budget-friendly pricing (under $15 per pillow)
• Fluffy hypoallergenic fill
• Machine washable
• Stain resistant cover
• Supports and cradles the spine to reduce cramping and muscle spasms

Cons

• Synthetic materials may be less favourable to some

Best for side sleepers: Honeydew Curve Pillow

The Honeydew Curve is easily one of the best pillows for neck aches and side sleepers thanks to a clever half-moon design that allows proper fetal-position posture. Structural side fabric maintains its profile throughout the night, reducing tossing and turning and ensuring pain-free sleep.

Fully adjustable fill means you can add or remove fill from your pillow so it is always the right height for your body. The included copper threading has naturally antimicrobial properties and each Honeydew pillow comes with a three-year warranty.

Pros

• Ergonomically designed to cradle the head, neck and shoulders
• Ideal for side sleepers with significant neck pain
• Encourages healthy sleep patterns
• Adjustable firmness
• Thousands of positive customer reviews

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Cons

• Pricer than other picks on our guide to the best pillows, though we think it’s worth every cent for side sleepers

Best for back sleepers: Memory Foam Cervical Neck Pillow

Back sleepers rave about this memory foam pillow that combines the best features of a neck roll with an ordinary pillow in one brilliant design. It offers ergonomic support to the head, neck, shoulders and back with an added guardrail-like effect. There are also specific grooves on this pillow’s design that allow arms to be neatly tucked under for comfortable sleep.

We tried this one at home with a back-sleeping snore king who noticed reduced neck pain from the very first night. And, almost magically, it reduced the long, drawn-out snore sounds that seemed to make the entire bed vibrate.

Pros

• Supports and cradles the spines of back sleepers
• Double-sided design offers sleep options and varying levels of neck support
• Sturdy, reactive memory foam conforms to each individual’s body
• We noticed reduced neck pain from the very first night

Cons

• Doesn’t fit all standard pillowcases and has a bit of an awkward appearance on beds

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Best organic: ComfyComfy Organic Buckwheat Pillow

These 100 per cent organic buckwheat pillows are made from durable Canada-grown buckwheat hulls and 100 per cent organic cotton twill harvested and woven in the USA. We love that each pillow comes pre-stuffed with four pounds of natural, soft and comforting buckwheat hulls. An extra pound is included with each purchase so you can add more to your pillow if you choose.

“This pillow is amazing,” shares verified purchaser, Lauren McQuaid. “I’ve used it roughly three months at this point and holy moly — what a difference. I’ve suffered from migraines forever, they are triggered by a few different things but are almost always accompanied by neck pain and stiffness. Since using this pillow I’ve gone from getting headaches about every ten days to maybe once per month now. The severity and duration have decreased as well, and way less neck pain than I experienced before.”

Pros

• 100% organic buckwheat fill
• 100% organic cotton cover
• Ecocert-certified
• Made in Canada
• Filled with four pounds of Canada-grown buckwheat hulls and includes an extra pound so you can customize your sleep experience
• Fast, free shipping for Prime members
• Comes ready to use (no time required to puff up or inflate)

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Cons

• A bit pricier than other pillows for side sleepers and back sleepers on our list thanks to fully organic materials and Canada-made construction

Best down alternative: Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Pillows

Chic white piping and double stitching offer a sophisticated, expensive-feeling look to these handsome pillows. Gusseted construction promises extra durability. But really, all that matters is the extremely comfortable sleep experience and hotel-quality feel.

These medium-firm down alternative pillows are an excellent overall value, easy to spot clean and machine wash and available in loads of colours and sizes. Buy extras — they’re worth it.

Pros

• Soft, snuggly down alternative that feels similar to the real deal
• Affordable price point (about $20 per pillow in a two-pack)
• Choose from queen and king sizes
• Easy to spot clean
• Hypoallergenic
• Machine washable

Cons

• Not quite as cooling as advertised, though it definitely doesn’t trap heat

Best cooling: Shredded Memory Foam Cooling Pillow

Hot sleepers rave about this pebbled-textured memory foam pillow loaded with cooling gel particles. The fill is shredded to allow better air passage and circulation, promising two totally-cool-to-the-touch sleep surfaces. One side is made of gentle bamboo fibers with cooling gel while the other is entirely cooling gel so you can achieve a customized sleep experience.

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We slept on this pillow for two weeks straight and didn’t want to stop. It was easy to wash, never stored odours and boasts OEKO-Tex 100 certification that makes us rest well.

Pros

• Loaded with shredded cooling gel memory foam to cool and expel heat
• Two different sides promise a customized sleep experience
• Moderate pricing
• Over 16,000 shopper reviews with an impressive 4.3-star average rating
• Ships compactly and fully expands in a matter of hours once unwrapped

Cons

• Comes as a pack of 1, so it’s a bit pricier than other options on our list on a per-pillow basis

Best pregnancy pillow: Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow

Whether you’re currently expecting, recently gave birth or just love a good cuddle, this soft and snuggly Pharmedoc hugger is easily one of the best pillows we’ve ever tried. We love that it comes in two shapes, a C-shape or a crescent, and neatly tucks between the legs and knees for adding cushioning and support where it’s most needed.

“I have been using this pillow every single day and night since I was around 20 weeks pregnant,” writes verified Amazon purchaser and five-star reviewer, Tamara. “I gave it time to expand after taking it out of its packaging, and before 24 hours was up and ready to go. It’s super comfortable, very supportive in all the right places and has made sleeping and acid reflux much easier during my pregnancy.”

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Pros

• Ideal for every trimester and postpartum
• Comfortable adjustability
• Affordable pricing
• Fast, free shipping in Canada for Prime members
• Available in two shapes

Cons

• Only one colour
• Difficult to machine wash unless you have a large-capacity laundry machine

How we chose the best pillows for every type of sleeper

We did the hard work of sleeping on each pillow, looking at construction, fill materials and casings. Then, we considered how well each pillow stood up to practical real-world issues like stains, machine washing, odours and tight budgets. In the end, we chose designs that offered excellent value, fair pricing, comfortable sleep experience, easy maintenance and loads of neck and spine support.

Our list is focused on affordable Amazon products that ship fast and free for Prime members so you can sleep better this week with recommendations and guidance from a chiropractor whose expertise is focused on spinal health and pain.

This list, like everything else in life, is ever-evolving and may continue to grow or be edited as we try and test new designs. Your feedback and personal pillow experiences are welcome.

Sources:

• AnnaDi, chiropractorwith Unity Chiropractic Wellness

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