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If the goal of a bed pillow is to provide both comfort and support for your head and neck, then a body pillows should do the same for the rest of your body. Side sleepers, in particular, can benefit from a body pillow, which will help keep your spine in alignment and cushion joints while also giving you something to hug. The same is true for pregnant people, people with joint or back pain, or those recovering from surgery or injuries. And, of course, body pillows can be enjoyed by anyone who simply wants to feel cozy and snuggled up.
To write this guide to the best body pillows, I looked for pillows made from a variety of materials, and in different sizes and shapes, to cater to different sleep positions and firmness preferences. Because body pillows are large and require a lot of fill, they can get expensive quickly, so I also paid close attention to price, and asked sleep and physical-health experts, as well as fellow Strategist staffers, for their recommendations. I also tested many body pillows myself, judging each one on its firmness and feel, how well it supports my body, and how comfortable it is to sleep with overall. Read on for the very best body pillows, or, if you’re looking for a more specific type of pillow, we have guides to the best pillows for neck pain and the best pregnancy pillows, too.
Update on October 10, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Shape
A standard body pillow is rectangular — like a normal bed pillow but super-long. But there are a few other shapes out there, including C-shaped, J-shaped, and U-shaped pillows. The shape of your body pillow determines the amount of support you get and the location of that support. Here’s how they break down:
U-shaped: Providing full-body support, a U-shaped pillow covers the front of your body as well as your back. The curve of the “U” can go under your feet, between your kneeds, under your head, or around your head. This shape is ideal for pregnant people and people who tend to toss and turn; according to personal trainer Holly Roser, having the arms of the pillow on either side of your body helps prevent you from rolling over. Additionally, the pillow usually won’t have to be readjusted if you do change positions while you sleep. The downside is they tend to be wide, and may take up too much space if you have a smaller bed and/or sleep with a partner.
C-shaped: C-shaped pillows wrap around the body much like U-shaped pillows, but they aren’t quite as big, so you can still get support for your front or back without sacrificing as much bed space. But if you switch from one side to the other during the night, you may have to adjust the pillow. How tall or short you are may also be a factor in where the curves of the “C” hit your body.
J-shaped: As the name says, a J-shaped pillow looks just like the letter J with the hook typically resting between your knees and the long end resting behind your back or along the front of your torso. Sleep consultant Kelly Murray says this type of pillow is best for people looking for something to hug and those who need some neck support, or those experiencing upper back pain. You may need to readjust this one from your back to your front and vice versa if you tend to change positions while you sleep. Roser also likes this pillow shape because you can choose to use your own pillow for your head, or use the hook of the body pillow to rest your head on.
Fill
The best pillow fill for you will depend on your personal preference, but shredded memory foam is a top pick among the experts we interviewed, because it offers a good mix cushioning, medium-firm support, and breathability. If you prefer a softer body pillow, microfiber or poly-fill can offer a plush feel that is still supportive. If you run warm, I recommend looking for cooling materials, since a body pillow is a large item you’ll rest against all night long. Memory-foam body pillows tend to soften with use and body temperature, so Dr. Carleara Weiss, a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recommends hybrid or layered pillows with memory foam and microfiber or latex, as they will keep their shape better. Note that pillows with shredded foam or fiberfill will generally sleep cooler than slabs of foam, and pillows with cooling covers made of bamboo, Tencel, or breathable cotton can also help prevent you from overheating.
Firmness level
The experts we spoke to all agreed that the best body pillow is medium-firm. However, it’s not that black and white. Dr. Todd Sinett, a holistic back healer and the owner of Tru Whole Care, explains that a firmer pillow can be better for relieving pressure points, while a softer one will be more dynamic and move with your body if you tend to move around a lot while you sleep. His overall rule of thumb is that “if it feels good, go with it,” but if you’re not sure where to start, medium-firm is good a bet.
Best body pillow overall
Fill type: Cross-cut memory foam and microfiber | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 20 by 54 inches | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
Our best body pillow overall comes from the maker of our favorite bed pillow, Coop Sleep Goods — but that shouldn’t be a big surprise, because the brand’s extensive line of adjustable, reasonably priced pillows makes it easy for sleepers of all types to find the perfect balance of comfort, firmness, and support. The Coop body pillow is filled with the same blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber, which gives it a lofty, plush feel that isn’t too dense. Just like the bed pillow, the body pillow arrives medium-firm; if you prefer a softer pillow, you can remove some of the fill. If you prefer a firmer pillow and want to add more fill, note that while the brand’s bed pillow comes with an extra bag of fill, the body pillow does not. But Coop sells a few different types to choose from, including a gel-infused cooling option.
I own this pillow myself, and while I don’t sleep with it every night, I like that the pillow feels squishy and cushy when I wrap my arm and leg around it to lay on my side, but it’s also weighty and substantial. This makes it easy to hold onto and snuggle into without sinking too much into the material. (It basically acts like a counterweight.) And because the fill is plush but dense, I can easily use it for support while sitting as well. Sometimes, I place it along the head of my bed so I can rest against it to read or scroll on my phone. Additionally, I appreciate the Coop’s standard sizing, as I was able to purchase a pillowcase from a different manufacturer to better match my bedroom — this $15 waffle-knit pillowcase from Target.
I haven’t removed or added any fill since I got the pillow, as the medium firmness it ships with works well for me. If you do need to adjust the pillow, all you do is unzip the machine washable outer cover to access an inner cover that contains the fill. I’d also recommend giving the pillow a good shake after you zip it back up to fluff and redistribute the fill.
As far as materials go, Coop’s foam is both CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified; these certifications mean it emits minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds (airborne particles the Environmental Protection Agency says can cause adverse health effects). And while the Coop body pillow isn’t cheap, at just under $100, materials-wise it is on par with similar body pillows and more affordable than most “luxury” options. The pillow’s combination of adjustability and comfort, as well as its reasonable cost, are what earned it the top spot on this list.
Best (less expensive) body pillow
Fill type: Shredded memory foam | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 20 by 54 inches | Firmness: Medium | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine washable
Slightly less expensive than the Coop, this Snuggle-Pedic body pillow has a similar design and uses shredded memory-foam fill, though without any microfiber mixed in, like the Coop has. This body pillow also has a breathable and soft bamboo cover that is designed to regulate temperature and keep you cool. Our writer Brenley Goertzen tested it and found it cushioning, supportive, and moldable — she says the pillow is easy to form into different shapes, like a U-shape for reading in bed or to wrap around her shoulders while sleeping. Goertzen slept with the pillow for a couple months and found it worked well for providing extra support when she slept on her side. Her only complaint is that it lacks some fullness, so it may not be best for you if you want a firm or overstuffed pillow. But as a bonus, the entire pillow is machine washable, which is rare for a memory-foam pillow.
Best plush body pillow
Fill type: Microfiber fill | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 20 by 54 inches | Firmness: Medium-soft | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine washable
This lightweight down-alternative body pillow from Parachute offers plush, medium-soft support. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang bought it to use during her third pregnancy and prefers it over firmer body pillows, describing it as “lofty, airy, and cooling when I feel overly warm; warm and comforting when I feel a little cold; and easy to maneuver into place.” The pillow doesn’t come with a removable pillow case, but its measurements are fairly standard, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one — or, for an extra $109, you can purchase a linen pillow case from Parachute that Yang says gives the pillow a nice aesthetic. You can also use it without an additional cover, if desired, as it has a 100 percent cotton sateen shell that will still feel soft and comfortable, and the entire pillow is machine washable if you don’t mind the extra laundry.
Best (less expensive) plush body pillow
Fill type: Poly-fill | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 20 by 54 inches | Firmness: Medium-soft | Care instructions: Hand-wash or spot clean
Another plush and lightweight — but more affordable — option, the Utopia Bedding body pillow can be used between your knees for hip support, under your arm for shoulder pressure relief, or while you’re sitting in a chair for lumbar support. The multipurpose poly-fill pillow is plush but overfilled to prevent the pillow from flattening out. The pillow ships vacuum-packed and may need some time to expand upon arrival; to help it maintain its fluffiness, you can also toss it in the dryer on a low heat setting with tennis balls or dryer balls to redistribute the filling.
Best cooling plush body pillow
Fill type: Foam and fiberfill contained in small pouches | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 19 by 52 inches | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine washable
This cooling body pillow from Twilla comes recommended by Goertzen, who tested it and loved it so much that it became a permanent fixture on her bed. The pillow’s cover is made of Tencel, a semi-synthetic fabric that is known for its softness and strength. Goertzen reports that it regulates her temperature well while she sleeps, and keeps both her and her partner — who runs especially warm — from overheating.
Goertzen describes the pillow as medium-firm, but since it is adjustable, you can make it feel softer by removing some of the fill. Speaking of which, the Twilla has a unique approach to pillow fill: Instead of unzipping the pillow to find shredded foam or fiberfill, you’ll instead find mini-pouches of fill inside the Twilla. Each pouch is filled with cubes of gel memory foam and fiberfill, like pillow ravioli. To adjust the Twilla, you simply remove some or shift them around to your liking. Goertzen is a fan of the pouches, saying they make the pillow feel squishy, since they can move around inside the pillow as you settle into it. She did notice that the pods can occasionally bunch up, which might bother some people, but says she doesn’t mind it as they are individually soft enough to not feel lumpy.
Best memory foam body pillow
Fill type: Memory foam | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 12 x 48 inches | Firmness: Firm | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
A firm body pillow like the Tempur-Pedic BodyPillow can provide lots of extra support. Filled with Tempur-Pedic’s signature memory foam, the pillow is one of the firmest options on this list. Goertzen, who tested this pillow, describes it as super-dense, and “pretty dang heavy” — it weighs 8.5 pounds. Because Goertzen generally prefers a fluffier pillow, she didn’t love the feel of this one, which she didn’t find to be as “huggable” as some of the others on this list. However, she observed that the pillow essentially stays “locked into place wherever you set it down,” so it could be a great option if you are looking for firm pressure relief that won’t give too much under the weight of your limbs, or as back support if you are pregnant or trying to train yourself to sleep on your side.
It’s a bit smaller than a standard body pillow, at 48 inches long and about 12 inches wide. Its size is a potential bonus if you’re petite or want a body pillow that won’t take up too much space in your bed, and a potential drawback if you’re tall or plan to buy an additional pillow case to go over the machine washable cover, as most standard-size body-pillow cases will be too large.
Best weighted body pillow
Fill type: Ultrafine polyfiber | Shape: Rectangular | Size: 21 by 54 inches | Firmness: Medium | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine washable
According to Seth Davis, a sleep consultant and the founder of Sleepably, hugging a body pillow at night is more than just a comfy and supportive way to sleep: “Some small studies have suggested that hugging stimulates the release of oxytocin, which is a hormone that helps people feel calm and secure, so there are potential benefits for the mind from hugging a body pillow at night,” he explains. This weighted body pillow from Pluto, which also makes a great custom pillow, is filled with ultrafine poly-fill fiber that mimics down softness. Despite its plush feel, it weighs 12 pounds — significantly heavier than the much firmer Tempur-Pedic — so it will stay put as you cuddle up next to it. It also has a quilted, cool-to-the-touch polyethylene-and-cotton-blend cover, and both the cover and the pillow itself are machine washable.
Best pregnancy body pillow
Fill type: Memory foam and microfiber | Shape: Adjustable | Size: 55 by 31 inches | Firmness: Medium-firm | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
When you’re pregnant, a body pillow or pregnancy pillow can be a crucial tool in keeping you comfortable and providing support as your body grows and changes. If you’re typically a back or stomach sleeper, a pregnancy pillow will also help you sleep on your side, which doctors recommend after about 20 weeks of pregnancy. Newton’s memory-foam pregnancy pillow is our favorite pregnancy pillow because of its versatility: You can configure it into a U-shape, J-shape, or C-shape to fit your sleep preferences and support needs — particularly as those needs change throughout your pregnancy and beyond. The detachable extension can also be removed and used separately as its own rectangular body pillow. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo slept with this pillow while pregnant and says it was effective for relieving lower back pain and cushioning swollen ankles while sleeping, as well as for support while sitting in bed to watch TV or read. The Newton pregnancy pillow’s machine washable cover is made of polyester blended with organic cotton.
Best (less expensive) pregnancy body pillow
Fill type: Polyfill | Shape: Adjustable | Size: 30 by 57 inches | Firmness: Medium | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
A favorite of new mom Hellen Ongaro, the adjustable PharMeDoc pillow is very similar to the Newton in that it can be configured into a U-shape, J-shape, or C-shape pillow, and it also has a detachable extension that can be removed and used separately as its own rectangular body pillow. Ongaro used the PharMeDoc when she was pregnant to stop herself from unintentionally rolling to sleep on her front, and toward the end of her pregnancy, she found that “the U-Shape was a lifesaver in elevating my legs and my bump.” The PharMeDoc pillow is filled only with poly fiber, without any memory foam, so it will skew softer — and potentially less supportive — than the Newton. However, its machine washable cover is made of soft jersey-knit cotton that comes in multiple color and pattern options (while the Newton only comes in white), so you can pick whichever best fits the vibe of your bedroom.
Best gusseted body pillow
Fill type: Poly-fill | Shape: Rectangular with a gusset | Size: 21 by 54 inches | Firmness: Adjustable | Care instructions: Entire pillow is machine washable
This Oubonun body pillow is adjustable like the Coop and Twilla body pillows, but filled with poly-fill instead of shredded memory foam. It arrives with all of its poly-fill inside, and if needed, you can remove some to make the pillow lower and softer. This pillow also has a gusset — an additional panel of fabric around the perimeter, which gives the pillow a slightly boxy shape — which makes it ideal for side sleepers because the filling can be distributed more evenly to the edges of the pillow to provide a consistent level of support along its full length. The entire pillow is machine washable for easy maintenance.
Best extra-long body pillow
Fill type: Natural rubber | Shape: Cylindrical | Size: 7.5 by 82 inches | Firmness: Firm | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
From the brand that makes one of our favorite weighted blankets, Bearaby’s Cuddler body pillow is made of springy, supportive natural rubber that the brand calls Melofoam. At 82 inches long and 7.5 inches wide, the pillow is essentially an extra-long, flexible bolster pillow — and it is indeed the longest body pillow on this list. Former Strategist writer Latifah Miles, who is five-feet-ten, tested the Cuddler and “instantly fell in love with the extra length.” She says the pillow was easy to configure into different shapes, such as wrapping it around her waist, laying next to it, or folding it up to rest against for back support. She also liked being able to fold the pillow to create a customized width and shape. The natural rubber fill is hyperresponsive, so instead of sinking into the pillow, Miles says she felt propped up in just about every position she tried.
The pillow comes with a machine washable organic-cotton cover — or for an additional $129, you can purchase an organic-cotton knitted cover that comes in eight colors and looks especially stylish. When the Cuddler is unfurled to its full length as a bolster pillow, it spans the width of a king-size bed, and if you splash out for the fancier cover, it can also add some attractive texture to your bedscape. However, you can also tie the pillow into a chunky knot when you aren’t using it, for what Miles describes as a “more compact yet sculptural throw-pillow look.”
Best multipurpose body pillow
Fill type: EPS bead fill and polyester fiber blend | Shape: Cylindrical | Size: 33.5 by 8.5 inches | Firmness: Medium | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
This multipurpose body pillow from Yogibo is filled with a blend of polystyrene (EPS) beads and fiberfill. It’s both malleable and supportive, with a feel that is similar to the brand’s popular beanbag chairs, but not quite as “sinky.” Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio has tested many of Yogibo’s products and generally describes them as “extremely comfortable, squishy, and responsive,” noting that “they almost make you feel like you are weightlessly suspended.” However, she has found that she is sensitive to the sound of the EPS bead fill, which isn’t a huge issue with a beanbag chair but can be disruptive in a pillow when she’s trying to sleep. That’s why she recommends the brand’s Buddy Roll design as a body pillow: The filling is a mix of EPS beads and polyester fiber, with the fiber helping to lessen the noise. Overall, the pillow will adapt to your body the way memory foam does, without trapping body heat. It’s also the shortest pillow on this list, so it won’t take up too much space in your bed and can be especially useful for petite people. The machine washable cover is made of a lightweight spandex-and-cotton blend that stays nice and cool and comes in five colors.
Some more Strategist-approved pillows (of all types)
Our experts
• Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Seth Davis, sleep consultant and founder of Sleepably
• Brenley Goertzen, Strategist writer
• Latifah Miles, former Strategist writer
• Kelly Murray, sleep consultant
• Hellen Ongaro, new mom
• Holly Roser, personal trainer
• Dr. Todd Sinett, holistic back healer and owner of Tru Whole Care
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor
• Carleara Weiss, member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
Additional reporting by Latifah Miles.
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