9 best orthopaedic pillows to combat neck pain

Who says memory foam has to be soft? This medium/firm orthopaedic pillow is a best seller for those who sleep on their back or side. The Silentnight Sleep Therapy Contour Support Pillow is designed with a unique contour to relieve neck and back pain, align the spine, and reduce pressure on joints. If memory foam has always been your go-to option while choosing pillows, then this memory foam dual-contoured pillow with a pressure-relieving core comes with a larger contour to support the spine alignment of side sleepers and a shallow one ideal for back sleepers.

As a product that is also popular among side sleepers who start off sleeping on their backs or switch positions while sleeping, most users have found that the comfort this pillow offers helps to reduce moving around so much in the night. Its high-quality memory foam offers firm support that keeps its shape, while the ergonomic design helps improve breathing and reduce snoring. It is suitable for all sleep positions and has a removable, machine-washable cover for easy care.

The SIMBA Hybrid Firm Pillow comes with a hefty price tag, but for those seeking superior support and cooling technology, it may be worth every penny. Designed for customisable comfort, this innovative pillow features temperature regulation and adjustable height and firmness.

One of its standout features is Stratos temperature control technology, which keeps one side of the pillow cool by drawing away excess heat. Our 64-year-old tester, who often experiences overheating at night, found this particularly beneficial: "I really appreciated the cooling technology as I often get hot in bed. In the summer months, this is an absolute godsend!"

The pillow's construction includes three inner layers—two made with down-like Simba Renew™ and a third, more supportive layer featuring Aerocoil® micro springs encased in a cushioned sleeve. This layered design allows users to adjust the pillow's height and firmness to suit their sleeping preferences. However, as our tester noted, the firmness is considerable: "This pillow is so much firmer than the first one I used from Simba, which had the nanocubes. Although it takes a lot of getting used to, it was really comfortable and firm."

For side sleepers and those needing extra neck support, this pillow could be a great fit. Our tester, who has a long neck and sleeps on their side, acknowledged the difference compared to their previous Simba pillow: "My previous pillow with the nanocubes was easier to adjust to than this one, but this option provides excellent support."

That said, this might not be the best choice if you prefer a softer pillow. As the tester advised, "This option might not be suitable for those who need a softer support. However, if you are on the lookout for a really firm orthopaedic pillow that can support your neck while sleeping, then this pillow might be the perfect fit for you."

The Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow is designed to promote proper spinal alignment, alleviate pressure and help you wake up feeling rested and free of aches. Made from 100% Levitex foam, this pillow provides firm yet supportive comfort tailored to different sleeping styles.

One key feature of the Levitex pillow is its personalised approach—the brand offers a 20-minute sleep consultation before recommending the ideal pillow size. Our tester found this process particularly helpful: “This pillow was recommended for me by the brand after a sleep consultation where they got to know my height, sleeping patterns and behaviour. As a side sleeper who is also on the shorter side, they suggested that I use their small pillow.”

While the firmness and thickness of the pillow might take some getting used to, they play a crucial role in supporting the entire neck region and maintaining proper spinal alignment. As our tester noted: “If you’re used to sleeping on fluffy, soft pillows, it does take some time to adjust. But the thickness and firmness work well to support your entire neck while keeping your head straight and aligned with your spine.”

This structured support proved effective right away, offering noticeable relief: “I could feel that my neck was very rested and relaxed after just one night of using the pillow.” However, the tester pointed out that while the pillow excels for side sleepers, it may not be ideal for back sleepers: “The pillow is a bit firm if you’re sleeping on your back, as it can position your neck quite high.”

Overall, the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow could be a great investment for those looking to improve their sleep posture—especially side sleepers seeking firm support.

The Tempur Original SmartCool Pillow is a slightly pricier option, but its advanced design ensures excellent support and comfort. Made with NASA-developed technology, the pillow contains ultra-sensitive cells that adapt to the shape of your head, neck, and shoulders, providing targeted pressure relief.

While the firmness and feel may take some adjustment, the results can be game-changing. Our tester shared her experience: “This pillow took a few nights to get used to, as the firmness and feeling on my neck felt strange. But now, I don’t even notice it, and it’s very comfortable.”

For those struggling with neck pain, this pillow could make a significant difference. As our tester noted, “I had been suffering from neck ache for months, but after switching to this pillow, it's completely resolved! The shape of the pillow is perfect for supporting my neck, and I no longer wake up with my neck and shoulders feeling stiff and achy.”

Beyond support, the SmartCool technology enhances sleep comfort by absorbing excess heat and keeping the surface cool throughout the night. This ensures that your head stays fresh and comfortable, even during warmer nights.

To help users find their perfect fit, the Tempur Original SmartCool Pillow comes in three sizes. Plus, the brand offers a 30-day trial, allowing you to test the pillow and return it if it doesn’t suit your needs.

With its advanced support, cooling technology and trial period, this pillow could be a great investment for those looking to improve their sleep quality.

If you’re looking for an affordable yet effective orthopaedic pillow, this Medium Support Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow is a great choice. Designed with breathable, high-quality materials and a bamboo-infused cover, it stays soft, cool, and gentle on the skin—perfect for a restful night’s sleep.

At 50 x 75cm and weighing 1kg, this pillow feels heavier than standard options, but the medium firmness provides excellent support. Its memory foam filling contours to your head and neck, offering stability while remaining comfortable.

Our tester, who has a long-standing shoulder injury, was initially unsure about the firmness but was pleasantly surprised by its positive impact. She shared, "I was initially sceptical, given the firmness of the pillow, but I cannot overestimate how much this has improved the chronic pain in my neck and shoulder." As a side sleeper, she often experiences nerve compression in her neck, worsening her shoulder discomfort. However, after a month of use, she noted a remarkable difference: "Whilst it's not a miracle, this memory foam pillow has made a significant improvement."

This budget-friendly orthopaedic option is well worth considering for those struggling with neck or shoulder pain or simply seeking a supportive and cooling pillow. Our tester confirms that it is cooling: "I'm not constantly tossing my pillow, and I appreciate that it is hypoallergenic too."

Contour pillows may not always seem the most comfortable or soft, but this supportive neck pillow provides the best pressure distribution for a perfect night's sleep. The ergonomic shape and curves of the contour memory foam pillow help to support your head, neck and shoulders while also relaxing your cervical spine whether you sleep on your back, side or stomach. The build makes it comfortable as it moulds to suit the head size, body weight and shoulder width of the user.  

One reviewer has mentioned that it takes a couple of nights to adjust and that rotating it a couple of times helps to get the right height and comfort. It also helps that the pillow comes with two heights that offers varying firmness between the two which is suitable for people who move around and switch positions while sleeping and a pillow that accommodates and supports various positions and pressures would be handy. Maintenance is also easy as it comes with a breathable and washable cover that can be removed. Since this pillow offers different firmness levels, some users have not found it firm enough for their liking. So this is something to consider while weighing your options.

The Kally Neck Pain Pillow is designed to improve body alignment. It focuses on the head, neck, and shoulders to ease pain and stiffness. As a breathable option that is also firm, this pillow allows heat and moisture to escape for a more comfortable sleep. If you are suffering from neck pain and looking to relieve strain with a good night's sleep, this pillow can do the job. It provides medium-firm support with memory foam that adjusts to your head and neck's shape, promoting comfort and proper alignment during sleep. The pillow’s memory foam filling is soft, slow-rebounding, and retains its shape over time. Its quilted, breathable cover is soft, hypoallergenic and resists bacteria. With an orthopaedic butterfly shape, this pillow is suitable for back, side, and stomach sleepers, helping you find the perfect position for restful sleep.

However, if you are looking for a thicker and firmer pillow, then this is not the best option as it is thin. This pillow alone was a little low once the head had settled into it, but this issue can be quickly resolved by placing a shallower, standard non-memory foam pillow underneath it. The pillowcase is also removable and washable which makes cleaning and maintaining easy.

This award-winning high-quality memory foam pillow is revolutionary in its design and is perfect for side, back and stomach sleepers. Comfortable and supportive, its patented technology cradles your head, offering support to the neck, cervical area, back and shoulder. Several reviewers who has been experiencing difficulties have found this pillow very helpful, including a customer who had a couple of discs removed from their neck a few years ago. The brand uses their patented 'SILVER-BAC micro thread', made from real silver, which is really effective against germs as well, making it a perfect option if you are on the lookout for an antibacterial pillow. 

The high-density foam was appreciated by a lot of users as low-density foam remains compressed even after changing positions while sleeping. While some reviewers found the pillow to be a little smaller than the standard, it is soft to the touch and has just the right amount of give in it to support the neck and shoulders. You also do not have to break into the pillow to make it comfortable as it seems to get accustomed to your sleeping positions and patterns quite quickly. The material is breathable and takes heat away from your body which also contributes to a comfortable night.

Certified CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX for durability and performance, these pillows will provide your neck, shoulders, and back with efficient support whilst still being breathable for a cool and comfy night's sleep. This pillow is recommended for all sleep positions, thanks to the responsiveness of the contouring gel memory foam. A customer who had cervical spinal stenosis and needed a pillow soft enough to mould into the neck when laying on the back without pushing their chin into the chest found this pillow firm enough to fill the space between the ear and shoulder when sleeping on the side as well. The height of the pillow is right enough to allow your neck to sit at a neutral angle.

Many reviewers have praised this pillow for putting an end to neck stiffness, sore shoulders, and serving some serious comfort. It is also good for people who toss and turn throughout the night due to pain in the ears or headaches. The ventilated design with an air layer on the surface makes it very gentle and cooling on the skin, thereby avoiding any discomfort to the head. They have also ensured that there is no formaldehyde, mercury, lead or heavy metals that go into the manufacturing process which leaves no chemical smell, thus providing a healthy sleep.