The Best Firm Pillows To Support Your Head And Align Your Neck

A soft, squishy pillow may seem like a great idea in theory, but for many people a firm pillow is a better choice. “A pillow must have the appropriate firmness to allow for neutral alignment of the spine,” explains Dr. Arya Nick Shamie, Chief of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at UCLA.

He says that your pillow should help you keep your head “between your shoulders in all planes”—and in all sleeping positions. The best firm pillows do just that. The best firm pillows help support your head and neck overnight, so you can wake up without ... [+] soreness. Although pillow firmness is extremely subjective (as you’ll pick up on quickly from reading just a handful of pillow reviews), so I included pillows that ranged from medium firm to firm, and options that are a good fit for all sleep positions.

As a true firm pillow crafted from dense foam and available in multiple sizes, the Tempur Pedic Tempur Neck Pillow took our top spot. I hand picked plenty of other options, too, including pillows filled with down, shredded foam and even latex so that you can find something that’s ideal for your needs.

Best Firm Pillow Overall Tempur Pedic Fill material: Memory foam | Height: 4 inches | Trial: None If you’ve tried several different pillows but still find yourself waking up with an achy neck, the extra firm Tempur Neck Pillow may be worth a try—as counter intuitive as it sounds. With very little give, it keeps your neck well supported and in alignment with your spine, which can spell less pain for you.

The pillow comes in three different sizes (each with different heights), and you can determine which is best for you by measuring the distance between the base of your neck and the outside of your shoulder. The pillows are made from Tempurpedic’s molded memory foam that’s designed for ergonomic support.

What the reviews say: Though its shape is unique, people who love this pillow really love it. One reviewer says, “I wake up after a restful sleep with no pain in my neck or back primarily due to this pillow.” Another reviewer says, “I had developed severe neck pain to the [point] I could barely turn my neck… I have used this pillow for about two months and all the pain is gone.” Best Affordable Firm Pillow Buffy Fill material: Down Alternative made from recycled fiber | Height: 7 inches | Trial: 7 days The Buffy Cloud Pillow might sound extra soft, given the name, but this option comes in three firmness levels.

It’s filled with a down alternative made from recycled lyocell fibers that the company calls “soft but supportive.” The pillow is and is available for less than $60—making it one of the most affordable options on our list. If you don’t want your Cloud Pillow to be too soft and cloud like, choose the medium or firm option.

These contain extra filling than the base to provide a more supportive feel. In addition to its 7 day home trial (you’re not charged for the pillow until you’ve had it for a week), the company offers free, no questions asked returns for 100 days. What the reviews say: According to one reviewer these pillows, “are totally amazing for the price.” Another reviewer says the firm Cloud Pillow is, “the perfect firmness” and that it “doesn’t get hot while I’m sleeping.” Best Firm Memory Foam Pillow GhostBed Fill material: Gel memory foam | Height: 6 inches | Trial: 101 days The GhostPillow is made from firm, gel memory foam that many reviewers say holds its shape and maintains support throughout the night.It also has a number of features to help keep you and the pillow cool, like vents molded into the memory foam, a mesh layer and a cover made from GhostBed’s cooling, sweat wicking fabric.

At six inches, it’s on the taller side—which may make it uncomfortable for stomach sleepers, and folks with smaller or petite frames. It’s a great option for side sleepers, though. Plus, with a longer than average pillow trial period, you can relax and test it out for yourself risk and pressure free.

What the reviews say: Reviewers give the GhostPillow high marks, with one reviewer saying they “love the cool memory foam feel.” Another says “the foam provides perfect support.” Best Firm Down Pillow Brooklinen Fill material: Down clusters and feathers | Height: 6 inches | Trial: 365 nights Brooklinen’s Down Pillow is available in three firmness levels.

The firm option contains the most filling to provide a level of support that’s appropriate for side sleepers. Even still, a firm down pillow may feel softer, relatively speaking, than a truly firm foam pillow. Although the soft version contains only down clusters, the medium and firm pillows both have a combination of down clusters and feathers to lend them adequate support.

You may want to invest in a pillow protector to extend the life of a down pillow, too—especially as the pillow isn’t easy to wash, like some memory foam options are. An added bonus is the pillow can be returned for a full year, and has a warranty that covers it the year following. What the reviews say: Brooklinen’s down pillows get rave reviews.

One customer says, “I have tried several down pillows and this one is the best yet.” Still, if you’re looking for an extra firm pillow, you may need to choose something other than down. “I ordered the firm version and was expecting it to have more filling,” one reviewer explains, “I still double it with another pillow underneath to add height.” Best Firm Latex Pillow Saatva Fill material: Natural latex | Height: 8 inches | Trial: 45 days Latex is a more natural option that provides similar support to synthetic foams, which makes it popular with eco conscious consumers.

The Saatva Latex Pillow contains a core made of natural shredded latex, with an outer fill made of a super fine and plush down alternative, microdenier fiber. The pillow has a soft feel, but is still firm and supportive enough for side sleepers. The cover is also made from fair trade, organic cotton.

What the reviews say: Reviewers really like this pillow, despite its high price tag. One reviewer says it’s “the most comfy, cushy pillow but with tons of neck and head support.” Another reviewer agrees, saying, “A lot of pillows I find are just too fluffy, but don’t support your head. This one is the perfect middle ground.” Best Adjustable Firm Pillow Coop Home Goods Fill material: Memory foam, microfiber | Height: 7 inches | Trial: 100 days The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow is stuffed with medium firm memory foam and fluffy microfiber.

As such, it arrives at your door as a relatively tall, truly medium firm pillow. One of the best features of this pillow is that it’s adjustable—it comes with an extra bag of fill that you can use to supplement what it initially comes with, and ramp up the firmness as desired. If you find it still isn’t quite cutting it, and feels too soft, you can purchase extra fill from the Coop Home Goods website.

Overall, this pillow is a great option for anyone who isn’t sure exactly what they want, as you can add and subtract to make a pillow that’s ideal for you. What the reviews say: With more than 15,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews, this pillow is a favorite. “The feature of loading/unloading the stuffing to get the level you like is very intuitive and works well,” one reviewer explains.

Another says, “I’ve adjusted the amount of fill several times, a process that’s very easy to do. I’m a side sleeper, and this is the best pillow I’ve ever had.” Best Firm Pillows For Back Sleepers Amerisleep Fill material: Memory foam | Height: 5 inches | Trial: None The Dual Comfort Pillow is two sided, offering both a firm and a soft side—each made from ventilated, molded memory foam to help keep the pillow cool.

The foam in this pillow is also certified by Certipur US, which demonstrates that the pillow is low in potentially harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For back sleepers, the low loft (5 inch height) option may be more comfortable than the mid loft (6 inch height) option to reduce neck strain.

Still, take note: this pillow doesn’t have a trial period and is ineligible for returns, so make sure to review all the product specs before placing your order. What the reviews say: According to reviewers, this pillow is actually a bit firmer than they expected. One says, “When I first received it, it seemed like it would be too hard/firm.

But it is perfect. I actually sleep more on my back now.” Another reviewer says, “If you have neck pain while sleeping this pillow will help with that. Just do not expect it to be a soft pillow.” Best Firm Pillow For Side Sleepers Eli & Elm Fill material: Latex, polyester | Height: 6 inches | Trial: 45 days Side sleepers need a pillow to support their neck, but the standard rectangular shape of a pillow often means that you need to pull it out from under your shoulders when you lay down.

The unique design of this side sleeping pillow solves that problem, with its slight u shaped shoulder cutout that allows you to nestle right in. The pillow is designed to arrive at a medium firmness level. But, if you find it isn’t quite enough, you can purchase more of the shredded latex and polyester filling from the Eli & Elm website to add to the pillow.

It’s also Oeko Tex certified. What the reviews say: Reviewers that are side sleepers really appreciate the shoulder cutout in this pillow. “I’m a side sleeper and my shoulder would bother me for some time after waking up,” one says, adding, “Since using the Side Sleeper, I haven’t had any trouble with my shoulder.” Another says, “The shape of the pillow allows for great support, and just cradles my head and neck.” Best Firm Pillow For Stomach Sleepers Belly Sleep Fill material: Memory foam | Height: 2.5 inches | Trial: 30 days While many people sleep on their side or back, fewer sleep on their stomach.

Even so, stomach sleepers still need pillows, and there are unique considerations that factor into choosing one for this sleep position. For stomach sleepers, a thinner pillow helps to keep their nose and mouth free from obstruction—but it still needs to be firm enough to keep the spine and neck in alignment.

This pillow from Belly Sleep fits the bill. It’s a mere 2.5 inches thick, but crafted from firm, high density memory foam that supports your neck without pushing it up and potentially causing strain or pain. The pillow also has a 30 day in home trial period, and a lifetime warranty. What the reviews say: Reviews show the pillow works for the people it was designed for—stomach sleepers are big fans.

“This pillow is exactly what I was wanting,” one reviewer says, “It’s flat and makes it easy to sleep without feeling like you’re suffocating.” Another writes, “my neck no longer aches in the morning. The pillow works for stomach sleepers.” Still, it is extremely thin compared to standard pillows, and some combo sleepers say it isn’t nearly as comfortable when they roll to their side or back.

Best Organic Firm Pillow Avocado Green Mattress Fill material: Organic latex, organic kapok fiber | Height: Adjustable | Trial: 100 days The Green Pillow is made with completely organic Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified materials, meaning it’s a great choice for folks who prefer organic materials.

It also has certifications from Greenguard Gold and Made Safe, two certifications which require a product to meet a high bar for indoor emissions and health. The fill is a combination of latex and kapok, a soft, vegan down alternative, and the cover is made with cotton. The latex provides structure and firmness, while the kapok lends the pillow a soft, cushy feel.

The pillow is adjustable, too—in fact, that’s why Avocado declines to give it an actual height measurement. You can add fill to make it firmer, or remove fill for a softer pillow. The pillow comes with one bag of extra fill, but you can purchase additional fill from the Avocado website as well. What the reviews say: Most reviewers are sold on this pillow, impressed with both the quality of the materials and the pillow’s performance.

One reviewer explains, “It’s not a super soft pillow like the cheaper ones, or a fluffy expensive one that offers no neck support.” Another says, “I love the fact that the materials are all natural and sustainably harvested, and that it comes with extra stuffing in a separate bag, in case you want to add more or remove some.” Best Cooling Firm Pillow Sutera Fill material: Memory foam | Height: 6 inches | Trial: 30 days If you tend to get hot at night, you may want a pillow that’s made to stay cool.

Sutera, a mattress and bedding company owned by Brandless, offers this firm, cooling memory foam pillow for a slightly lower price than similar pillows from other brands. The pillow is only available in one size, and is made from a high density foam that contains 360 microchannels to encourage airflow and keep the pillow cool.

It’s also infused with lavender oil to help promote relaxation. What the reviews say: According to reviewers, the pillow really does stay cool. “It helps me keep cool at night, unlike all the other memory foam pillows I have tried,” says one reviewer. “It really does stay cool,” another writes, “even after putting my own pillow case over the one that comes with the pillow.” Why Trust Forbes Vetted Here at Forbes Vetted, we’re dedicated to making sure you get the best sleep possible.

That means devoting ourselves to researching, learning and understanding anything and everything sleep. We deeply research every product we recommend, in addition to interviewing industry insiders and health and sleep experts. Our team has tested dozens of pillows in pursuit of finding the best. For this story, we consulted with Dr.

Arya Nick Shamie , a board certified spinal surgeon and Chief of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at UCLA. How We Chose The Best Firm Pillows While pillow firmness is highly subjective, to choose these pillows I drew on my experience covering bedding and sleep, as well as my marriage to a firm pillow lover who takes his preferred pillow with us everywhere we go.

Here are the criteria I used when choosing which products to include: What To Consider When Shopping For A Firm Pillow Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a firm pillow. Generally, the firmest pillows are made with a solid piece of molded memory foam. These pillows hold their shape well and have much less give than other pillows.

While these pillows are firm, they aren’t great if you want to be able to adjust your firmness, height or fill level. In other words, when they work, they often really work—but if they aren’t just the right fit, there’s little forgiveness. For a more medium firm feel, you might want to consider a pillow that contains a memory foam core surrounded by an outer layer of shredded or downy fill.

This gives you a supportive base, but cushioning for your head and neck. The softest pillows are generally filled only with shredded fill or natural fibers, including down. Still, some adjustable options, like the Coop Home Goods pillow we included on this list, allow you to add more fill to increase the firmness.

Dr. Shamie wouldn’t be overly concerned about which material you opt for. Instead, he encourages people to focus on neck alignment. “The modern foam pillow is not only the right consistency and firmness, but is also more hypoallergenic than a traditional down pillow,” he says. Foam pillows are easier to wash than down pillows, which helps prevent the accumulation of dust mites and bacteria that can lead to allergic symptoms in some people.

Another downside of down pillows is that, despite their high price, they may not have the longevity of pillows made from other materials. The down in these pillows is often combined with feathers, which can decrease the lifespan of the pillow by puncturing the fabric. Being poked in the face by a feather also isn’t a great experience when you’re trying to sleep.

If you’re shopping online for a pillow, it’s a good idea to choose one from a company that offers a home trial. With a home trial, you have several nights, or up to a year for some brands, to test the pillow and see if it’s going to work for you. If it doesn’t, you can return it and get your money back.

If you’re shopping for a pillow from a mattress brand, be sure to check out the trial policy for pillows, in particular. Some companies, including Tempur Pedic, offer trial periods for their mattresses, but the same policies don’t extend to other products like pillows. You may also want to consider the warranty, as well.

This typically covers manufacturer defects. Many pillows come standard with a one year warranty, but some of the more high end options come with a longer warranty period. Also, remember that policies may differ if you purchase a pillow directly from a brand vs purchasing one through Amazon or another third party retailer.

In some cases, retailers might not honor at home trials and returns if you didn’t purchase through their site. Your primary sleep position is probably the most important consideration when shopping for a new pillow. Generally, side sleepers need a pillow with some height to it, which allows your neck to remain in alignment while laying on one shoulder.

Of all sleep positions, side sleepers need the tallest pillows. However, the exact height should depend on how broad your shoulders are. Likewise, back sleepers should opt for a pillow that’s tall enough to allow their neck to remain comfortably in alignment. Looking at customer reviews, you’ll find firm pillows are, perhaps surprisingly, popular with folks who favor this sleep position.

Finally, stomach sleepers can also benefit from firm pillows—however, for this position a firm pillow must be quite thin, in order to not cause neck pain. Shorter pillows, like the 2.5 inch tall Belly Sleeper Pillow , are a solid option. These pillows support the neck without trapping heat or feeling smothering, like some larger, fluffier pillows might when stomach sleepers snuggle in for the night.

Some other factors to consider are your size and the firmness level of your mattress. “When you’re lying on your side,” Dr. Shamie explains, “the pillow needs to fill in the gap between your head and your shoulder, so your head doesn’t fall to the side and cause you to wake up with a very sore neck.” That means that petite people likely need a firm pillow with a lower height, while people with broad shoulders may need one that has extra height alongside its firmness.

Generally, you can also choose a pillow that’s a mild opposite of your mattress in firmness. If your mattress is very soft, a slightly firmer pillow may be best for you to provide the structure and support your neck needs. If you have a firm mattress, you can probably get away with a pillow that’s on the softer side.

What Is The Best Material For A Firm Pillow? This really depends on your preferences and how firm you want the pillow to be. The firmest pillows are generally made from molded memory foam, a material that doesn’t have the same ability to compress as shredded foams and down, where there’s inherent space between pieces.

This material can also feel firmer for longer than other pillows, as it doesn’t tend to compress over time the same way. Medium firm pillows often have a memory foam core with an outer layer of softer fill to provide some cushioning. The outer layers are usually made from shredded foam. In down pillows that are firm, the middle is often made from feathers and the outer cushioning will be down.

Finally, the softest pillows contain only shredded foam or fibers, like down. Still, in some cases you can make these pillows firmer by adding more fill, depending on the design. Additionally, you may want to consider the quality of the materials. The Avocado Green Pillow , for example, is made from fully organic materials.

Are Firm Pillows Better For You? According to Dr. Shamie, a pillow that’s too soft “will not support your head well enough to maintain a neutral position of your head and neck.” All pillows should be firm enough to keep your neck in proper alignment with your spine—regardless of your sleeping position.

If you’re sleeping on an old, flat pillow and waking up with neck or shoulder pain, it’s probably time to upgrade to something firmer and more supportive..