Body pillows have the feel of regular bed pillows, but most are long and thin. The best body pillows are ones you hold between your legs when you sleep on your side, helping improve spinal alignment and relieve pressure points that cause pain throughout your body.
When you shop for the best body pillow for you, you’ll want to consider its use, the filling, and any extra features you need, such as cooling properties. Consider the popular features below and review some of the best body pillows on the market today.
- BEST OVERALL: Meiz Full Body Pregnancy Pillow with 300TC Cotton
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Ubauba Full Body Pillows for Adults
- BEST HYPOALLERGENIC: AllerEase 100% Cotton Allergy Protection Body Pillow
- BEST COOLING: Nestl Bedding Pillow Heat and Moisture Reducing
- BEST U-SHAPED: Moonlight Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow
- BEST CUSTOMIZABLE FIRMNESS: Oubonun Premium Adjustable Loft Quilted Body Pillows
- BEST FOR PREGNANCY: QUEEN ROSE U-Shaped Pregnancy Body Pillow
- BEST FOR BACK PAIN: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Full Size Body Pillow
Popular Body Pillow Filling
You can find body pillows stuffed with cotton, foam, latex, and more. There is no best kind of filling, personal preference generally dictates what body pillow filling will suit you. Still, there are pros and cons to all types. Consider some of these below.
Cotton
A cotton filling is a classic mainstay for all types of pillows, including body pillows. You likely want to choose a cotton filling that is all-natural and organic. That will ensure there are no harmful chemicals in the mix. Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic, comfortable, and breathable. Cotton can clump together, though, and grow hard over time.
Foam
There are different types of foam, but memory foam is commonly used in pillows. Memory foam provides firm support and molds to the shape of your body. Yet some memory foam is heavy and traps body heat. One great way to choose a memory foam pillow is to select one with high density so it fully supports you. Low-density memory foam pillows are sometimes filled with low-quality materials that can emit odors that cause respiratory issues.
Latex
Latex-filled pillows are softer and less rigid than those made of memory foam, so they are often preferred by those with back, neck, and other body pain. Look for one filled with 100 percent organic materials. Benefits include comfort, mold and mildew resistance, and flame retardance. One downside is their cost, which is generally considerably higher than memory foam.
Polyester
If you have allergies, you may want to consider a body pillow filled with polyester, which is known to be comfortable, hypoallergenic, and machine washable. One downside is that polyester, like cotton, can grow lumpy which may shorten the life of your body pillow.
Down/Feathers
You may want to choose a down/feather filled body pillow if you like warmth, softness, and durability. Down is made of feathers from geese and ducks, so it’s also light, long-lasting, and washable. Body pillows filled with down/feathers can be expensive, though, and often need constant fluffing to avoid becoming flat. If you have allergies, you should know there is no guarantee that down is hypoallergenic.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Body Pillow
When you choose the best body pillow, it’s important to consider the shape and size, but there are other features you should review, too. Some body pillows allow you to add and remove filling, for instance.
Size and Shape
Body pillows are often long and thin, but there are other options. Some of the best body pillows are shaped like letters, including “C,” “J,” or “U.” Those pillows are especially helpful for pregnant women (“C”), those who want complete body support as they sleep on their sides (“J”) and those that need extra back support as they sit (“U”).
Firmness
If you have spine pain or need full-body support, consider a firm body pillow. These pillows give you extra support and can help relieve pressure points that cause pain.
Support
Body pillows come in various shapes that offer maximum support for multiple parts of the body. The long, narrow pillows provide support for your neck, back, and hips. As noted above, other body pillows are shaped like letters. Body pillows shaped like the letter “J” offer complete support, and those shaped like a “U” are great for back support. The “C” shaped pillows, often used by pregnant women, offer full-body support. Body pillows shaped like cylinders provide support wherever you use it, including the neck and legs.
Fill Power
When you hear the term “fill power,” it refers to the quality of down. Generally, the higher the fill power, the lighter, softer, and higher quality the down.
Customization
There are different types of customization for body pillows. One of the most popular features allows you to add and remove filling to ensure the pillow is the correct thickness for your needs.
Ease of Cleaning
You want to read the instructions that come with the body pillow before you clean it. Most body pillows can be machine-washed and dried on low heat in the dryer.
Our Top Picks
Body pillows come in a wide array of sizes and shapes with extra features to suit various needs. Consider the following best body pillows to find one that works for you.
Photo: amazon.com
Your entire body can be cradled in this extra soft, comfortable, adjustable body pillow by Meiz. This top pick is long and thick enough to support your whole body—measuring 66.93 by 31.5 by 7.87 inches—and is made with extra soft, high-density polyethylene and 7D hollow fiber filling. It provides a balance of comfort and support. Designed to increase blood circulation and relieve leg swelling and soreness, it supports your entire body to relieve pain. The pillow has a 100 percent cotton cover and a machine-washable pillowcase. You can make this pillow even more comfortable by adjusting the fiber filling. Note: This breathable pillow is optimal for those who sleep on their sides and backs. You can get it in your choice of nine colors.
Photo: amazon.com
This 20 by 54-inch pillow offers medium-firm support for your hips, back, neck, and stomach, no matter your sleep position––at a very affordable price. This body pillow is made with advanced microfiber filling that is comfortable and soft. It comes with a zippered pillow cover made of 43 percent viscose of bamboo, 56.4 percent polyester, and 6 percent Lycra to keep you cool as you sleep. You can wash the pillowcase and pillow in the washing machine and dry it in gentle mode. Note: The pillows arrive vacuum packed so that they may arrive flat and wrinkled. Follow the step-by-step instructions included to make them fluffy and soft quickly.
Photo: amazon.com
The AllerEase 100% Cotton Allergy Protection Body Pillow offers great allergen protection.. The hypoallergenic polyester fiberfill of this body pillow, which measures 54 x 9 x 20 inches, comes with a microfiber zippered cover. It provides an extra barrier against dust, pollen, and allergens as it supports your hips, back, neck, and stomach. You can machine wash this body pillow and its cover to keep it fresh. Plus, the pillow fluffs after every wash so that it continues to feel new and supportive. This pillow offers full-body support at an affordable price.
Photo: amazon.com
This 20 by 54-inch body pillow is filled with gel-infused shredded memory foam that keeps you cool as it conforms to your body. Plus, this hypoallergenic body pillow has an adjustable loft, which means you can add and remove fill to ensure the pillow has the proper thickness for you. You can safeguard this pillow in the bamboo-derived rayon cover, which is breathable and very soft. Although it feels velvety, the cover is machine washable so you can easily clean spills, stains, dust, and pet hair. Do note that this pillow may have a slight smell when you first unwrap it. The smell is 100 percent harmless, and you can remove it by washing the cover.
Photo: amazon.com
Pregnant women often use a “U” shaped body pillow, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them, too. The Moonlight Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow measures and aligns your hips, neck, shoulders, and back to relieve pressure points and offer full-body support. This U-shaped pillow is made from premium synthetic down that is hypoallergenic and odorless. The down allows air to flow freely, helping regulate body temperature so you can stay cool as you sleep. It’s also easy to clean, just put the pillow into the washing machine. The synthetic down won’t clump, even after repeated washings.
Photo: amazon.com
The best body pillow has the perfect firmness for you. Your preference may change, though, depending on your body, stress level, and even the season. The Oubonun Premium Adjustable Loft Quilted Body Pillow allows you to add and remove the high-quality 7D polyester fill to suit your needs. The 17 by 13.4 by 7.1-inch pillow aligns your spine no matter your sleeping position. The body of the pillow has a high-quality quilted top pillow design and anti-fading properties. The pillow comes with a 100 percent cotton, breathable, and allergenic pillowcase to keep you comfortable. Note: When you open the pillow’s package, press and squeeze it. The pillow will expand to full shape within 48 hours.
Photo: amazon.com
This U-shaped body pillow relieves discomfort associated with pregnancy, including back pain, fibromyalgia, sciatica, gastric reflux, congestion, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It features a contoured shape that works to align your spine and relieve pressure points. The pillow, which measures 23.9 by 16.3 by 8.1 inches, is covered in pure satin and filled with long-lasting polyester. Although it’s marketed to pregnant women, it relieves body pain, whether you have pain in your back, hips, knees, neck, or shoulders. The machine-washable cotton pillowcase comes with a double zipper so you can easily remove and clean it.
Photo: amazon.com
This body pillow is designed to provide orthopedic support with its fluffy, resilient mixed foam filling that adjusts to your sleep position throughout the night. The 16.4 by 13.6 by 8-inch pillow has added buoyancy that relieves your back, hip, knee, leg, and even foot pain. That’s because the pillow is designed to keep your spine in correct alignment. The pillow is also designed to allow air to circulate throughout, keeping you cool as you sleep, and comes with an extra breathable kool-flow bamboo cover. It’s sized so you can use it as a full body pillow or position it to use for your head. You can keep this pillow fresh with machine washing. You can also fluff it anytime by popping it in the dryer for 20 minutes.
FAQs About Your New Body Pillow
Q. How do you use a body pillow?
There are many ways to use a body pillow, but the most common way is to lay on your side, position the pillow along your body, and wrap your legs around the pillow.
Q. Are body pillows good for side-sleepers?
Side-sleepers generally receive the most benefits from body pillows. You can lay them along the length of your body to relieve pressure points that cause pain.
Q. Why does my pillow make my neck hurt?
Some pillows don’t support your head and neck, so tension causes neck pain. You can use a U-shaped pillow to support your neck and reduce such pain. You can also use a full-sized body pillow, lay on your side, and wrap your legs around it. The extra support eases neck pain.
