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The right pillow for neck pain should provide good proprioceptive feedback, helping you feel secure and comfortable during sleep. It should fill the space between your ear and shoulder, offering pressure relief without sinking too much to avoid muscle strain. For back sleepers, a thinner cushion that supports the natural curve of the head is recommended. Proper neck support during sleep is essential for quality rest and minimizing daytime neck pain, whether from injury, poor posture, or other causes. Neck pain itself can even indicate the need for a new pillow. Regardless of the suspected culprit, a cushion specifically designed for neck pain can offer relief. These cushion’s aim to position your head correctly, aligning your neck with your spine in any sleep position (side, back, or stomach). However, experts advise those with neck pain to prioritize sleeping on their back or side. Some neck pain pillows feature specialized shapes to help maintain spinal alignment and prevent rolling. Ultimately, support is key, with firmer cushions often being recommended. A good starting point is a medium-firm mattress paired with a medium-firm cushion, though individual needs vary based on head weight, shoulder width, preferred sleep position, and pillow fill. To assist in your search, the Strategist consulted ten sleep experts and included their recommendations, along with pillows tested by staff and personal trials. Core Products Tri-Core Cervical 

Core Products cervical pillow: dual bolsters offer adjustable neck support for back (head cradle, neck support) and side sleepers (raised sides). Strategist’s Brenley Goertzen found it quickly eased tech-neck, improved alignment, and helped her stay on her back. Gradual adjustment to the bolster is recommended. Three standard sizes.

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Neck  Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud’s wave design offers neck support via a head valley and dual-size bolsters. Available in three sizes based on shoulder width and side/back sleeping. Tester found the small supportive. Strategist editor Simone Kitchens credits the firm, supportive small for years of neck pain relief. Turmerry Contour  For a cooler, bouncier neck support pillow, try Turmerry’s latex version of the Tempur-Neck. Wavy shape with two bolster heights, medium/firm options (medium is medium-firm). Perforated for airflow, more affordable. Great for cooling comfort with good support. If you need very firm support or different sizes, consider Tempur-Neck. AllSett Cervical Neck Roll For optimal neck and upper body support, Dr. Singh advises using this cylindrical bolster pillow with your regular pillow. Its soft, washable cover and firm memory foam provide comfort. Position it between your head’s base and shoulders with another pillow for head support. Can also improve spine alignment between knees. Avocado Molded-Latex Pillow Avocado slab pillow: flat, sheet-cake design for consistent support for combination sleepers. Firm organic latex with bounce. Three sizes, high (5″) loft, best for back and side sleepers (may be too high for smaller individuals). Tall side sleeper found it well-sized and supportive; shorter tester found it too high/firm. Good for side sleepers needing firm, consistent support. Bluewave Bedding Hyper Slim Gel Memory Foam Thick pillows can misalign the neck, especially for back sleepers. Strategist editor Crystal Martin (back sleeper) found relief with the thin Blue Wave pillow. Its low loft (four options from 1.75″ to 3.25″) still provides support without overextension. Super-slim is for back sleepers; thinner options for stomach sleepers/arm-under sleepers. Not for side sleepers. Medium-firm gel-infused memory foam supports back sleepers without strain. Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Coop Original: adjustable fill (memory foam/microfiber blend) for customizable loft and firmness, ideal for neck pain and all sleepers. Remove/add fill (extra bag included, more densities available) to align neck. Moldable yet supportive. Tester adjusted for comfortable back/side sleeping. Editor found consistent support, though prefers softer. Saatva Natural Latex  Saatva Latex pillow: fluffy hotel feel with neck support from a pillow-within-a-pillow design (shredded latex core, microdenier fiber outer). Plush yet supportive, good for side sleeping. Not too firm. Editor Alexis Swerdloff loves its springy, non-lumpy feel. Standard/high loft options; standard suited tester (5’5″, average shoulders), high better for taller/broader individuals. Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Osaze orthopedic pillow: firm, contoured memory foam cradles and holds your neck in alignment, recommended by chiropractor Randi Jaffe for back and side sleepers. May feel less cuddly but offers excellent neck support. Purple Harmony  Purple Harmony: ventilated latex core and Purple Grid offer bouncy, supportive comfort. Three lofts for all sleeper types. Tester (combination back/side) prefers the “low” (medium loft) and finds it the best ever, noting excellent neck alignment and cooling. Buffy Cloud  Stomach sleepers with neck pain should consider back/side sleeping, but if not, the soft Buffy Cloud pillow is a good option. Made with recycled PET, it compresses easily for neutral neck alignment, unlike firmer ones. Comes in three soft firmness levels; soft or medium recommended for stomach sleepers to avoid neck strain. Eli & Elm Organic-Cotton Side-Sleeper  Eli & Elm: crescent-shaped pillow, our top pick for side sleepers. Cutout allows shoulder to fit snugly, filling the gap between head, neck, and mattress. Tester liked how it cradled the neck. Goertzen appreciated the shoulder-molding design and ear pressure relief. Adjustable fill for custom loft/firmness. Comes stuffed, extra fill available.