Anyone who lives with chronic insomnia knows the feeling of the never-ending night. Each passing hour can feel like an infinity, yet, at the same time, the night slips away.

Before you know it, the clock says 3 a.m., and you’ve been awake the entire night.

A good night’s sleep can be like night and day when it comes to your ability to feel happy and productive. While falling asleep would ideally happen without any help, our modern world calls for modern sleep interventions.

That’s where products for insomnia can help. Whether it’s artificial light or scratchy sheets that are keeping you from falling asleep, we’ve got you covered.

The term insomnia is often used casually to mean any given night when sleep is difficult. However, insomnia as a sleep disorder can be defined by four criteria:

  • having difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or only getting nonrestorative sleep
  • persisting difficulty, even when you have the opportunity and ideal conditions for sleep
  • lack of sleep affecting your ability to function properly during the day
  • sleep disturbance occurring at least three times per week and continuing for at least 1 month

Short-term insomnia is often caused by stress, schedule changes, or changes in the environment (one reason that insomnia frequently occurs when traveling).

However, the cause of chronic insomnia can be more difficult for doctors to pin down. They often recommend a mix of healthy lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication to help manage and treat it.

Although the exact cause of insomnia can be hard to figure out, it’s clear that many of our modern lifestyle habits — such as using screens late at night, overworking, lacking exercise, lacking sunlight, and using a lot of stimulants — can set our minds racing and make it tough to settle down at night.

Creating healthy habits that help us transition from activity to rest is crucial, and certain products on the market can help counteract the effects of this lifestyle to help us get a better night’s sleep.

There are so many products on the market that claim to relieve symptoms of insomnia. To ensure that you choose the highest quality products possible, we used the following criteria:

  • Scientific research. Numerous studies examine the effects of factors, such as light, diet, and meditation, on sleep. We used peer-reviewed research to help inform the types of products that could most support sleep.
  • Customer reviews. The customer is always right, which is why customer reviews are one of our best indicators of a product’s quality. We took a close look at reviews to make sure customers really love each of our picks.
  • Company reputation. All the products we reviewed are from reputable companies that have a history of making quality items.
  • Price. While prices vary based on the products, we did our best to include products for a variety of budgets.

Pricing guide

We reviewed a diverse range of products that have a diverse range of prices.

Prices are indicated as:

  • $ = under $100
  • $$ = $100–$500
  • $$$ = $501–$1,000
  • $$$$ = over $1,000

Best weighted blanket for insomnia

  • Price: $$
  • Who is it best for: people who have insomnia caused by stress or mental health conditions

A weighted blanket can be an amazing tool if you experience anxiety that’s keeping you up at night.

Weighted blankets create a calming effect by putting a pleasant pressure on the body. This releases serotonin and calms the nervous system. Research shows that people with insomnia caused by depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and ADHD experienced improved sleep when using a weighted blanket.

We like this weighted blanket from Purple because, at 20 pounds, it’s hand-knitted from an organic cotton yarn and encourages natural airflow. It’s also evenly weighted, machine washable, and perfect for all seasons of the year.

This blanket receives overall positive reviews, and many people say it improves their quality of sleep. Many reviewers also appreciate having the ability to choose either a cozy or cool side.

Pros

  • The open knit design is very breathable. This is especially good for people who find that their body might run hot.
  • The material is highly durable. Users have found that the organic cotton and thick knit make the blanket one of the more durable ones on the market and will stand the test of time.

Cons

  • It’s available in only one size. If you want a weighted blanket that weighs more, you’ll have to look elsewhere as this one has only the 20-pound size.
  • Lack of insulation. Because the blanket is breathable, you might find that this blanket hasn’t got enough insulation if you tend to run cold.

Best mattress for insomnia

  • Price: $$$$
  • Who is it best for: people with insomnia driven by orthopedic issues

While a bad mattress might not be the entire reason someone experiences insomnia, an uncomfortable or unsupportive mattress can play a major part in poor sleep.

An old mattress can also be a problem. A 2008 study found that replacing an old mattress (over 7 years old, according to The Better Sleep Council) can help improve sleep quality.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, a medium-firm mattress can be a great one to consider. A 2015 study showed that medium-firm mattresses are typically comfortable for most people. They can also help reduce back pain.

This mattress from Saatva is available in a “luxury firm” option that many reviewers say helps improve their sleep. It’s a hybrid mattress, which means it has layers of foam for comfort and spring coils for added support and durability.

The Saatva Classic Mattress was awarded a seal of approval by the Congress of Chiropractic State Organizations.

It also has an impressive rating of 4.9 stars from almost 2,000 reviews. Many reviewers say the mattress is incredibly comfortable, and they highly recommend it.

Pros

  • It’s made out of patented lumbar technology. The technology used in the mattress ensures a healthy spinal alignment.
  • It’s individually coiled. Because of the individually pocketed comfort coils, these respond to the body’s curves and movements throughout the night.
  • Reviewers say this is the perfect mattress for a bad back. Users who have back problems say this mattress is a great solution

Cons

  • Some reviews say it needs replacing after a few years. After a few years, some users say the mattress has deflated and needs replacing.

Best pillow for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who is it best for: people with insomnia driven by orthopedic issues

Contrary to popular belief, pillows are not one-size-fits-all. In fact, some pillows can help you fall and stay asleep better than others.

According to a 2014 study, using an orthopedic pillow — one that properly supports the curvature of your cervical spine — is more comfortable than using a feather or regular memory foam pillow. And it can improve the quality of your sleep.

This pillow from UTTU is a memory foam orthopedic pillow designed for all sleeping positions. It’s contoured, which means it’s taller under your neck and dips where your head rests.

It’s also adjustable, so you can choose to have either a low or high contour, depending on what’s most comfortable for you.

The UTTU Sandwich Pillow’s foam is CertiPUR-US certified, which means the foam is made without harmful chemicals. The outer cover is also made of bamboo fabric, which is breathable, cool, and washable.

Reviewers are overwhelmingly pleased with this pillow. Many say it’s extremely comfortable and supportive, even for side sleepers. People also say it makes a major difference in their sleep quality.

Pros

  • The company claims the pillow has better spinal alignment. Its technology may help to align the spine while sleeping.
  • It maintains its firmness, even as you use it. Because of the foam used, the pillow will never become overly firm during the colder months.

Cons

  • Reviews say the pillow is too flat. If you tend to sleep on your side, you may find that this pillow is too flat for you.

Best sheet set for insomnia

  • Price: $$
  • Who is it best for: people with seasonal insomnia

A 2018 review suggests that overheating at night can have negative effects on sleep. The right sheets, like the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set, can help support an ideal temperature.

This sheet set is made from cotton, which is known for its breathability. It’s also made with a percale weave, which means it’s super lightweight and crisp.

Reviewers say these sheets are soft and feel cool and silky. Some say they’re great for the summer.

Self-reported hot sleepers say these sheets help them stay asleep at night without overheating.

Pros

  • It’s made out of 100% cotton. The soft, cool feel of cotton will help prevent you from overheating and will help you stay cool all night.
  • It has a 270-thread count. This means the sheets will wear well and even soften over time.

Cons

  • The material is too thin. Some reviewers say the material of this set was too thin and thus wore quickly and wrinkled in the wash.

Best app for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with insomnia driven by stress or anxiety

When it’s time to fall asleep, a racing mind can be a frustrating experience for someone with insomnia. If this sounds familiar, it might be worth trying meditation.

Meditation can be an amazing antidote to an overactive mind and body, and it’s an excellent way to relax for sleep. A 2018 study found that practicing mindfulness meditation can improve overall sleep quality.

But meditating alone can be difficult for some people. Meditation apps, like the Calm App, can be a great resource for guided meditations, sleep stories, and relaxation exercises.

The Calm app averages 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store with 1.5 million ratings.

The app has a free 7-day trial, so you can try out the meditations for yourself. After the trial ends, membership costs $69.99 annually.

Pros

  • It’s great for people who are new to guided meditation. If you’re unfamiliar with meditation, Calm is an educational app with guided meditations.
  • New content is always being added. Subscribers and members don’t need to worry about running out of new content on the app since there are frequent additions.
  • You have the option of being soothed to sleep by a celebrity. Calm’s sleep stories are always being updated with new stories to help lull you to sleep. You can listen to A-list celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Harry Styles while you’re trying to doze off.

Cons

  • There are reported subscription issues. Some find that the app will automatically renew your subscription without a warning notification or email.

Best sleep soak for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with insomnia driven by stress and muscle tension

An Epsom salt bath is one of the most time-tested and inexpensive remedies for insomnia.

Epsom salt is rich in magnesium, which has a calming effect on the body, and it’s shown to reduce the effects of inflammatory diseases and relieve muscle tension.

Warm baths taken 1–2 hours before bed have also shown to reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.

Dr. Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Melatonin Sleep Soak combines the relaxing effects of Epsom salts with the sleep promoting benefits of melatonin.

With a low price tag, this product is one of the best deals when it comes to products for insomnia.

Even better, the salt is mixed with essential oils to soothe the senses through aromatherapy. This can also help improve sleep quality.

Reviewers say they love the smell of this bath soak and that it helps them relax before bed.

Pros

  • Pure Epsom salt has many benefits. As well as helping alleviate insomnia, Epsom salt can also help ease aches and soreness from muscle pain.
  • The essential oil blend may help you fall asleep. The soothing mix of essential oils in this blend can help calm the body before sleeping.

Cons

  • Some users reported they didn’t see a difference. Whilst some found Epsom salt helped them sleep better, some found that it had no effect.

Best light for insomnia

  • Price: $$
  • Who it is best for: people with insomnia driven by shift work or for younger children

Light is one of the primary offenders at preventing sleep these days. From too much screen time to the oversaturation of light in our homes, the excess light we expose ourselves to tricks our brain into thinking it’s still time to be awake.

Artificial light can have a serious negative effect on our bodies and cause circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, which can alter our body’s internal clock and cause insomnia.

One of the easiest lifestyle changes we can make is limiting our exposure to bright light at night. That’s why we chose the Casper Glow Light, which was designed to help people fall asleep easier.

The light has a soft, warm glow that promotes relaxation, and the light gradually dims to help you drift off to sleep without disturbance.

The Glow Light also functions as an alarm in the morning, lighting up with a soft glow when it’s time to wake up. The light sits on a charger and can be carried around as a night light.

The Glow Light is also well-reviewed on Casper’s website with an impressive 5-star average rating.

Pros

  • Convenient size. Users love the size of this light, especially if they ever need to get up in the middle of the night.
  • Great for kids. Parents have found this is a great lamp for kids who struggle with sleep or those who need to have quiet time before bed.
  • Ideal for workers on shift work. This is a popular lamp for people who work on shift and need to sleep or wake up during alternative hours of the day.

Cons

  • It may not wake you if you’re a heavy sleeper. The device relies on light therapy as a sunrise alarm clock. If you’re a heavy sleeper, you may require a sound alarm to wake you.

Best sleep mask for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with short-term insomnia

Sleep masks are a classic nighttime accessory, and for a good reason. They help block out light that might keep you from falling asleep or wake you up too early.

In fact, several studies from 2017 and 2019 show that wearing sleep masks and earplugs help improve the sleep quality of ICU patients who can’t sleep due to light and noise exposure.

We love the Lunya Washable Silk Mask, because it’s designed to not only cover the top half of your face, but also to cover your ears to block out noise. Another bonus: It can also double as a headband for your nighttime skin care routine.

While you can purchase a sleep mask at most drugstores, reviewers say this one from Lunya is well worth the splurge. The silk material is gentle on your delicate facial skin and hair, and it’s available in six different color options.

Reviewers are very happy with this product, saying it’s very comfortable and cozy, and that it effectively blocks out light.

Pros

  • It uses thermoregulating technology. This helps to maintain a comfy body temperature throughout the night.
  • It’s noise-reducing. Since it covers the whole side of the head, this mask shuts some sound out.
  • It’s sustainably made. The Lunya mask is manufactured with responsible resources in an attempt to help lower the impact on people and the environment.

Cons

  • It may affect the sinuses. Some reviewers found the size of the mask can put pressure on the sinuses.
  • It’s too tight for some users. Some users have found that because it’s one size fits all, it’s too tight around the head.

Best sound machine for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with insomnia driven by surrounding noise

For some, absolute silence is necessary to fall asleep. But for others, white noise machines can be useful for distracting from background noises that keep you lying awake all night.

In fact, a 2016 study showed that white noise machines effectively mask background noises, and they can help people in noisy places stay asleep and improve sleep quality.

This classic sound machine from Yogasleep is great for anyone who wants to mask background noise. It’s definitely a no-frills option and only plays a classic fan-based white noise sound (no thunderstorms here). But it has two speed options and adjustable tone and volume.

Customers rate this white noise machine highly, saying it creates a soothing sound and blocks out noise. Others say it helps them fall asleep, even when traveling.

Pros

  • There are two speed options. This allows for adjustability when it comes to tone and volume.
  • It’s not just for sleep. This can also be used to mask background noise in office environments or to soothe unruly pets.

Cons

  • Some find there’s a plastic rattling noise. Rather than how it sounds via soundbite on the website, some users have found that the device can make a plastic rattling noise.
  • The noise may not be loud enough for some users. If you’re looking to drown out loud background noise like snoring, this may not be loud enough for you.

Best melatonin for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with long-term insomnia

Melatonin is a popular natural sleep aid that’s safe for most people to take and has few side effects. It’s a hormone naturally secreted by the pineal gland that controls the sleep-wake cycle.

Studies have shown that taking melatonin supplements can help reduce sleep onset latency (otherwise known as the amount of time it takes to fall asleep) in people with insomnia.

Liquid melatonin absorbs more quickly into the bloodstream than pill form, which is why this option from NOW is our pick for people with insomnia.

This supplement is also free from wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, and shellfish.

One serving provides 3 mg of melatonin. Because this liquid formula doesn’t come with a dropper, you’ll need to measure it yourself with a measuring spoon or cup.

Pros

  • The liquid form is absorbed easily. Unlike a pill, the liquid form of melatonin means your body is more likely to absorb the product quicker to bring on sleep.

Cons

  • Some users experience side effects. Some users do experience side effects, such as drowsiness or nausea as a result of the melatonin. You also shouldn’t take it if you’re using any type of steroids.

Tip

For the best results, experts recommend taking melatonin about 2 hours before bedtime.

Best natural supplement for insomnia

  • Price: $
  • Who it is best for: people with short-term insomnia

Cherry juice is one of the most overlooked and simplest sleep remedies available. While warm milk usually gets all the credit for being the bedtime drink of choice, tart cherry juice is actually a powerhouse that’s shown to increase melatonin production and improve sleep duration and quality.

Even better, most containers of tart cherry juice go for less than $10 and can be purchased at most major grocery stores.

Pros

  • It’s best to have with dinner. Having tart cherry juice before bed with dinner has been found to promote better sleep.
  • Tart cherry juice has other benefits. Tart cherry juice has also been known to help improve muscle recovery, reduce blood pressure, reduce pain, and improve memory and brain health.

Cons

  • If you have strong insomnia, this might not be as effective. If you have long-term insomnia, it may be best to seek a stronger or long-term alternative from a medical professional.

The best way to choose which treatment is right for you is to understand what type of insomnia you may have. Some treatments will work differently depending on whether you have short-term, acute, or chronic insomnia.

Also, bodies respond to medications and treatments differently. If you have symptoms of more serious insomnia, it might be best to seek out the advice of a medical professional.

Temporary sleep loss and diagnosed insomnia require different courses of action.

According to the National Institutes of Health, people with insomnia can find relief by improving their sleep hygiene, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, managing stress, limiting daytime naps, getting regular exercise, and avoiding certain medications.

But, if you’re struggling to sleep 3 or more nights a week for more than 3 months, you may need further treatment. This could include medication or cognitive behavioral therapy.

If you consistently have trouble falling and staying asleep, reach out to a doctor to discuss potential treatment options.

Are there prescription medications to help with insomnia?

There are prescription medications that can help with insomnia.

Benzodiazepines are the most common type of prescription sleeping pills. Some other sleeping pills doctors may prescribe include:

  • temazepam
  • diazepam
  • oxazepam
  • zopiclone
  • zolpidem

When prescribed any medication for insomnia, it’s best to return to your doctor if the medication isn’t working or has any long-term side effects. Talking with your doctor may help you find the right solution to insomnia in the long run.

Can insomnia go away?

Short-term insomnia is often a temporary condition that can go away with some treatment. Following healthy sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine, sleeping at a consistent time every night, and limiting naps, can help with symptoms of insomnia.

With long-term insomnia, the right treatment can positively impact symptoms. Seeing a sleep specialist can be effective in finding the right treatment approach in hopes that insomnia will go away.

What foods can cause insomnia?

A diet high in refined carbohydrates can raise the likelihood of developing insomnia.

These are often called “empty” carbs and can include sugar and processed grains like white bread, cakes, and sodas.

If you have insomnia, it may be a good idea to try reducing and cutting out some of these foods from your diet.

Chronic insomnia has repercussions that ripple into the day and can lead to fatigue, exhaustion, trouble concentrating, and other health problems.

We live in an overstimulating world where factors, such as overexposure to light and stimulants, can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and make falling asleep or staying asleep difficult.

Luckily, there are products on the market that can help you settle your body and mind down, and help you fall asleep easier.

Remember to always talk with your doctor before trying any at-home remedies.

Lucia Whalen is a Chicago-based writer and multimedia journalist specializing in the intersection of health, science, and environment; she is also a cofounder of Trashy Magazine. Her writing has been featured in Atlas Obscura, South Side Weekly, MindBodyGreen, and other publications. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.