The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team researches these products & services and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made through links included.
The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team extensively researches and tests the products & services shared and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made. Learn more about how we test products and write reviews. NCOA does not receive a commission for purchases. If you find these resources useful, consider donating to NCOA.
Key Takeaways
If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, you’re not alone. Between 40%–70% of older adults report sleep problems, according to research. [1]Miner B and Kryger M.H. Sleep in the Aging Population. Sleep Medicine Clinics. March 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5300306 Pain is a common culprit for poor sleep, which in turn can prolong and worsen your condition. [2]Domenichiello A.F. and Ramsden C.E. The Silent Epidemic of Chronic Pain in Older Adults. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. July 13, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584619300831 [3]Pang J, et al. The Effects of Pillow Designs on Neck Pain, Waking Symptoms, Neck Disability, Sleep Quality and Spinal Alignment in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Biomechanics. May 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268003321000838 [4]Haack M, et al. Sleep Deficiency and Chronic Pain: Potential Underlying Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Neuropsychopharmacology. January 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6879497/ Unfortunately, adults age 65 and older are most likely to have pain that affects everyday life, including self-care activities and sleep. [5]Dahlhamer J, et al. Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Sept. 14, 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6146950/
Many people may benefit from changing their sleeping environment to improve their comfort, so long as it aligns with their doctor’s treatment plan. [6]Tatineny P, et al. Sleep in the Elderly. The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. September 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7723148 If you have neck pain, you may benefit from changing your sleeping surface with a new pillow or new mattress. You may also benefit from other interventions, like physical therapy. Always talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
Our Reviews Team consulted research studies and experts in rehabilitation, sleep, and spine health to determine which pillows are worth considering for neck pain. We hope this review helps you find relief.
Latex fill is the best option for neck pain and headache relief, which is why we like the variety of latex pillows from PlushBeds. The brand’s shredded latex option can accommodate most sleepers because of its soft, moldable feel, while still offering resilient support for the neck.
Latex is a natural rubber material shown to support the head and neck better than other pillow fills. [3]Pang J, et al. The Effects of Pillow Designs on Neck Pain, Waking Symptoms, Neck Disability, Sleep Quality and Spinal Alignment in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Biomechanics. May 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268003321000838 [7]Gordon S, et al. Pillow Use: The Behavior of Cervical Stiffness, Headache, and Scapular/Arm Pain. Journal of Pain Research. Aug. 11, 2010. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004642 That’s because latex material is adaptable to your body, molding to your head while firmly supporting the curve of your neck. And if you move during the night, latex bounces back quickly to adjust to your new position. Our team recommends PlushBeds because it offers three different latex-fill pillows:
Since the shredded latex pillow can accommodate more sleeping positions, we recommend trying this option—especially if you’re a combination sleeper who switches positions during the night. And while latex is a breathable material, shredded latex tends to have more airflow for hot sleepers.
Unfortunately, this brand doesn’t offer a trial period. If you’d prefer to try a pillow before fully committing, we recommend Saatva for its 45-night trial period. Also, consider that PlushBeds pillows are not machine-washable, so you’ll need to spot-clean the outer cover as needed or find a well-fitting pillowcase to protect the material.
You can reach PlushBeds customer service via:
PlushBeds has a rating of 1.8 out of 5 stars on BBB and an A+ rating with only 32 customer reviews. Google Reviews offers more data with 583 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating. Most people report positive customer service from the PlushBeds support team and are happy with the brand’s products, although there is little insight into customer satisfaction after purchasing pillows. Some negative reviewers dislike how you can’t return certain items, so before buying PlushBeds pillows, review the terms of purchase.
We recommend the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow for memory foam lovers because its adjustable loft height is more likely to accommodate your comfort needs than a standard memory foam pillow can.
Memory foam is a popular and more affordable option among consumers who want to sleep on a cloud-like surface that conforms to the head and neck. But it’s less durable and breathable than latex and isn’t as effective in relieving neck stiffness, according to some sources. [7]Gordon S, et al. Pillow Use: The Behavior of Cervical Stiffness, Headache, and Scapular/Arm Pain. Journal of Pain Research. Aug. 11, 2010. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004642 If you’re loyal to memory foam, we suggest the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow’s adjustable loft and feel, which allows you to customize your pillow’s height to your sleeping preferences for better probability of pain relief.
Unlike other adjustable pillows that require you to remove or add fill to change its loft (like the Naturepedic Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow), the Marlow Pillow uses a mess-free zipper system on each side.
Memory foam is known to trap more heat than latex, but Brooklinen uses a cooling-infused shredded foam with a breathable mesh material to maintain airflow. This is important to consider because cooler pillows are recommended for improving sleep quality. [8]Lan L, et al. Local Body Cooling to Improve Sleep Quality and Thermal Comfort in a Hot Environment. Indoor Air. Sept. 28, 2017. Found on the internet at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12428 [9]Setokawa H, et al. Facilitating Effect of Cooling the Occipital Region on Nocturnal Sleep. Sleep and Biological Rhythms. July 11, 2007. Found on the internet at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00270.x
Brooklinen also offers a lengthy trial period. You can try your pillow for up to a year before returning it, which makes this a good option if you need time to figure out your sleep patterns and preferences by trial and error. Try different loft heights, firmness levels, and sleep positions for a week at a time and see what works best. If you’re not sleeping more comfortably compared to your old pillow, you can return it, but the company will deduct $9.95 from your refund total. Still, purchasing this pillow is a relatively good deal if you give this a full-year trial and change your mind.
Since this pillow is spot-clean only, it’s a good idea to get a snug-fitting, machine-washable pillowcase or pillow protector to shield your fabric from dust, dirt, and stains. You can save by bundling the Marlow Pillow with a cooling pillow protector, starting between $89–$109 per pillow.
You can reach out to Brooklinen customer service via:
Brooklinen has a mixed reputation online. It has a rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars on its unclaimed Trustpilot profile with only 52 reviews. It also has 1 out of 5 stars on BBB, but there are only five reviews dated 2022. None of these reviews reflected Brooklinen pillows.
Google Reviews is the most updated online review source, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and 6,000 store reviews. Most customer comments are positive, stating how happy they felt with their purchase.
The Naturepedic Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow offers adjustable fill, so you can customize the loft height and firmness to your specific sleeping preferences and comfort needs. And because it’s made with shredded latex material, you’ll receive optimal support to help relieve neck discomfort.
If you’d like to customize your pillow’s loft and firmness while sticking the supportive properties of latex, the Naturepedic Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow is our top choice. This pillow comes with a shredded latex fill, which feels softer and more breathable than the brand’s solid latex option. We also like how the removable cotton cover is machine washable to keep your pillow fresh.
Similar to the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow, you can adjust the firmness and loft, but it’s a messier process with the Naturepedic adjustable pillow. To decrease loft, remove shredded latex until it is at the loft you prefer and then store the excess latex away. To increase loft, add shredded latex to your preference.
We appreciate how Naturepedic provides extra latex fill with your order because it better accommodates side sleepers who need loftier, denser pillows. The Brooklinen zipper system doesn’t allow for extra filling, so it may not be as comfortable for side sleepers who need extra height and firmness to hold the neck in better alignment.
Naturepedic offers up to nine combinations of size and comfort options to further customize your pillow. Choose between standard, queen, or king sizes, and soft- or medium-density fills. Soft fill is less firm than medium fill, and if you’re looking for maximum firmness, add the extra latex pack to your pillow.
You can also choose the two-in-one comfort option, which is the medium-fill pillow with a two-sided outer cover. On one side of the pillow, the cover is a quilted material with less stretch. The tension in this fabric prevents sinking into the pillow and is best for side sleepers who want a firmer surface that holds its shape. When you flip it over, the cover is a stretchier material that allows more sinking and conforming, which is best for back sleepers who need contoured support at the neck’s natural curvature.
These pillows can get heavy. A two-in-one fully stuffed king-size pillow ($179) can weigh up to 8 pounds, which is heavier than most pillows and can be hard to move if you shift around in your sleep. Latex pillows are typically heavier than other types, so expect denser or larger options to weigh more than 5 pounds.
You can reach out to Naturepedic customer service via:
It’s hard to gauge customer satisfaction through online reviews. Naturepedic has a rating of 1 out of 5 stars and an A+ score on BBB, but it only has two reviews, and neither reflects the brand’s pillows. It also has 3.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, but there are only three reviews and the profile is unclaimed.
But Naturepedic has a significant presence on social media. The company’s Instagram profile is active, posting multiple times per week. The account has 35,000 followers and an impressive amount of engagement under certain posts, particularly its giveaway events. Our team didn’t find many complaints in the comments, which is a good sign, since comment sections are where customers tend to report issues if they’re unable to reach customer service.
When choosing the best pillow for your neck pain, consider the following factors for the best chance at success.
Ask your primary care provider for advice regarding your symptoms. They can rule out other conditions that can cause pain in the neck, especially if it’s causing headaches or dizziness. If your pain is related to musculoskeletal issues of the bones, ligaments, or muscles, your doctor might refer you to a rehabilitation specialist.
Physical therapists can help identify the root cause of your pain and provide exercises or stretches that help alleviate discomfort and keep it at bay. They may also suggest particular pillows or sleeping surfaces that can accommodate your specific symptoms, which may differ from our selections in this review. Orthopedic specialists, chiropractors, and doctors specializing in sleep issues can also help provide tailored suggestions for your condition. Ensure you’re tackling your issue from all directions. Spine alignment isn’t always the key to success. “‘Optimal’ can be quite subjective. What looks like ideal alignment to a practitioner may be very uncomfortable for the client,” said Lindy Royer, a physical therapist and educator at Balanced Body. “There is never just one solution to neck pain, and alignment is only one factor. When working to reduce neck pain and headaches, we must take a multi-pronged approach and consider things like stress, nutrition, sleep quality, movement, and lifestyle. The old way of thinking was the belief that perfect alignment would lead to decreased pain, but research indicates this is not the case.”
Your sleep position determines what type of pillow you need.
Loft, or pillow height, is important for neck alignment with the rest of your spine. A pillow that is too thick or too thin could bend your neck too much in one direction, which can cause or worsen pain.
As a general rule:
Latex fill is most comfortable for those with neck discomfort, particularly if you wake up with headaches. This is because these options offer firm support that contours to the spine’s natural curves, holding the neck in better alignment than other types of fill. Most of our choices in this roundup are latex due the material’s supportive and durable nature.
Feather or down pillows are less effective in alleviating neck discomfort because they compress easily and lose shape throughout the night. [7]Gordon S, et al. Pillow Use: The Behavior of Cervical Stiffness, Headache, and Scapular/Arm Pain. Journal of Pain Research. Aug. 11, 2010. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004642 That’s why we didn’t include feather options in our roundup, although some stomach sleepers might like the low loft these pillows offer.
Stomach sleepers tend to be a tricky bunch because they traditionally benefit from feather pillows with low loft height. “If sleeping on the stomach is the most comfortable, it’s valuable to find ways to support this position,” said Royer. If you’d like to try something different, a low-loft latex or foam pillow in a three-quarter sleeping position (not completely on the stomach) can be a great compromise. This position is a combination of stomach and side sleeping that prevents excessive twisting of the neck, which can be pain-provoking, depending on your condition.
“A pillow can be blamed for neck pain if one has no pain during the day, but it’s still possible to have isolated nighttime pain from the shoulder that may be erroneously blamed on the pillow,” said Georgiy Brusovanic, an orthopedist and spine specialist at Miami Spine Doctor in Miami, Florida. Referred painⓘ Pain that occurs in one region of the body but newinates from somewhere else. from the shoulder is a common source of neck discomfort, so addressing the neck isn’t effective long-term. For example, a common condition called adhesive capsulitisⓘ Often known as frozen shoulder, this is a common condition that makes the shoulder feel stiff and painful, negatively impacting the arm’s movement. (or frozen shoulder) can refer pain to the neck while the root issue is actually the shoulder joint.
When you talk to your doctor, be sure to ask about other possible pain sources and for an examination of neighboring body regions to ensure you’re addressing the root cause.
Your mattress influences the perceived loft height of your pillow. Softer, conforming mattresses (like memory foam) will cause your body to sink into the surface more than firmer spring mattresses will. This means your head will sit closer to the bed’s surface, and a pillow’s loft will feel thicker than it is.
For example, a side sleeper whose shoulder sinks into the mattress’ surface may only need a medium loft (rather than a high loft) to maintain neck alignment throughout the night.
And if you’re sleeping on an adjustable base, consider your preferred head position. Some people benefit from head elevation to help limit snoring, and head elevation reduces how much pressure your head places on your pillow to compress and conform its surface. You may need a softer, thinner pillow to stay comfortable in an elevated position and to prevent your head from tilting forward.
“If you are used to sleeping on a soft pillow, you may want to start with a medium-firm pillow and gradually transition to a firmer pillow over time,” said Sean Ormond, a pain management specialist at Atlas Pain Specialists in Glendale, Arizona. Changes in loft height, density, or any characteristic of your sleeping environment can shock the system.
“It’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of the best pillow for neck pain,” said Ormond. If you’re nervous about trying something new, start by making small changes. An easy way to do this is by purchasing an adjustable pillow (like the Brooklinen or Naturepedic options), matching the current feel or loft as closely as possible to your existing pillow, and making changes from there.
Based on our expert consultations and research, we determined the following factors to be most important for our readers when shopping for the best pillows for neck pain:
We also ensured the basis of our picks followed research and expert recommendations and had our selections medically reviewed by an expert in the field to ensure each brand and product is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs.
To address neck pain, our team recommends latex pillow options due to their durability and resilience, which gives your neck the level of support it needs throughout the night. PlushBeds is our top pick because the brand offers multiple latex options, but we like the shredded latex for its breathability and softer feel compared to solid latex options. Our Reviews Team also likes Naturepedic’s Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow for its shredded latex fill, but it’s better for those who want to adjust the pillow’s density and loft.
Saatva is our value pick for its latex and down alternative layers, so people can enjoy the resilient support of latex without sacrificing the softness you get with down-like material. It also comes with a trial period, unlike PlushBeds. Lastly, the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow is the best memory foam option for those with neck pain due to its mess-free adjustability, so you can easily customize your pillow to your comfort needs.
Before buying any product to address a medical issue, including neck pain, check with your doctor for personalized guidance based on your specific condition. There may be more to your treatment plan for a good night’s sleep, like rehabilitation.
| Price | $99–$124 | $165–$185 | $65–$85 | $119–$179 |
| Sizes (width x length), in inches | Standard (24″ x 15″), queen (28″ x 16″), king (34″ x 16″) | Queen (28″ x 18″), king (34″ x 18″) | Standard (17.5″ x 26″) and king (17.5″ x 36″) | Standard (20″ x 26″), queen (20″ x 30″), king (20″ x 36″) |
| Loft height(s), in inches | Standard (4″), queen (5″), king (5″) | Standard (4″–5″), high (6″–7″) | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Weight in pounds (lbs)* | 3–4 lbs | 5–6 lbs | 2.5–3.4 lbs | 4–8 lbs |
| Trial period (nights) | None | 45 | 365 | 100 |
| Warranty (years) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
*Depends on pillow size and loft
Latex (and sometimes foam) options are most comfortable for those with neck discomfort, and latex in particular is best for people who wake with headaches. [3]Pang J, et al. The Effects of Pillow Designs on Neck Pain, Waking Symptoms, Neck Disability, Sleep Quality and Spinal Alignment in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Biomechanics. May 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268003321000838 [7]Gordon S, et al. Pillow Use: The Behavior of Cervical Stiffness, Headache, and Scapular/Arm Pain. Journal of Pain Research. Aug. 11, 2010. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004642
If you have neck pain, the density and firmness of your ideal pillow depend on your sleep style. Stomach sleepers need softer pillows, back sleepers need medium-density pillows, and side sleepers need harder pillows. Generally, people with neck pain benefit from medium or firm pillows to help support the neck’s natural curvature.
Waking up with a sore, stiff neck could result from a poor sleeping surface, like the wrong pillow. But your pillow isn’t always the culprit. If you wake up with neck pain, talk to your doctor for a full evaluation.
Replace your pillow every two years to reduce allergens, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. [10]Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Protect Yourself From Dust Mites With Asthma and Allergy Friendly Pillows and Pillow Covers. July 22, 2019. Found on the internet at https://community.aafa.org/blog/protect-yourself-from-dust-mites-with-asthma-and-allergy-friendly-pillows-and-pillow-covers
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
