A patient with chronic neck stiffness and poor sleep quality asks: "What is the best pillow for neck pain?" Like many chiropractors, you’ve likely fielded this question hundreds of times. Unfortunately, recent research confirms that there’s no universally correct answer.

Various studies support different options, including standard, latex, memory foam, and water-based pillows. (1-5), A 2025 systematic review of prior studies confirmed that “no particular type demonstrates clear superiority” in reducing neck pain, disability, or improving sleep quality. (6)

With no universal solution for choosing the best pillows, your individualized guidance matters more than you might think. The right pillow can reduce pain, improve sleep, and prevent recurrences of spinal problems. So which types, features, and brands are typically endorsed by chiropractors?

We surveyed over 200 practicing chiropractors to uncover their most recommended pillows and why. This blog distills their expert input into seven clear, evidence-informed strategies for helping patients find the best pillow.

1. Match the Pillow Material and Shape to the Patient

The first question in our survey asked chiropractors to identify the pillow types they recommend most often, revealing some clear favorites for chiropractor-recommended pillows.

Orthopedic contoured cervical pillow (e.g., Core, Pillowwise, Therapeutica): 50.0%
Memory foam pillow: 29.1%
Adjustable fill pillow (e.g., MyPillow): 20.9%
Water-based cervical pillow (ChiroFlow, Mediflow): 13.9%
Traditional foam pillow: 11.4%
Feather/ down pillow: 10.1%
Others (i.e., fiberfill/ polyester, buckwheat hull, neck roll, no pillow): <10% each

#1 - Contoured cervical pillows are the most recommended pillow for neck pain.

These pillows are designed to maintain proper spinal curvature during sleep. Exactly half of chiropractors in our survey favor this style as the best pillow for side sleepers or back sleepers, especially for patients with:

Postural strain or upper-crossed syndrome
Recurrent cervical joint dysfunction
Discogenic or radicular complaints

#2 - Memory foam pillows are the second most chiropractor recommended pillow

Although not as corrective as contoured designs, memory foam pillows are the second most recommended pillow. They lean toward comfort by molding to the patient’s shape, which may help improve adherence among patients who resist firmer or oddly shaped designs. Memory foam may be the best pillow option when:

The patient reports pressure sensitivity or poor sleep quality
There’s no significant postural or mechanical problem
The goal is improved comfort more than correction

💬 Top Quote: There is no universal “best pillow” option, so ultimately, it’s trial and error, just like shoes and mattresses.

2. Don’t Guess at Proper Pillow Height

Research confirms that adjusting to the proper pillow height directly impacts neck pain and somatic symptoms. (7)

Radiographic and biomechanical studies have shown that, for the average adult, a mid-range pillow height of about 10 cm produced the lowest neck muscle EMG activity and the highest comfort ratings. In contrast, very low (5 cm) or very high (14 cm) pillows led to significantly greater muscle activation and strain. (8)

Other more recent studies have confirmed there is no one-size-fits-all best pillow for side sleepers or back sleepers. (9) Optimal pillow height depends on multiple factors, including body habitus, sleep position, posture, and mattress firmness. (9,10)

To account for this variation, many chiropractors rely on tools like the Pillowise app, which calculates an ideal pillow size based on individual characteristics, or recommend adjustable options such as water pillows or customizable foam pillows.

💬 Top Quote: Regardless of sleep position, define a neutral neck posture and then “fill the gap”.

3. Account for Sleep Position and Body Type

Most chiropractors agree that, when making recommendations, sleep position matters. The consensus is:

The best pillow for side sleepers with neck pain may be a thicker, firmer support that correlates to shoulder girth.
The best pillow for back sleepers requires moderate height with cradling support for the neck.
Stomach sleepers - may need an extremely thin or no pillow at all, and advice to consider a hybrid position to reduce neck strain.

💬 Top Quote: Side sleepers need a thicker pillow to keep the spine neutral, back sleepers need lordosis support, and stomach sleepers need prayer!

Switching to Hybrid/Half-prone

An overwhelming majority of chiropractors counsel patients on sleep positions, especially warning them that sleeping on their stomach almost always leads to neck problems.

For patients struggling to break their stomach-sleeping habit, a practical transition is the half-prone, or “hybrid,” position. The strategy is simple: start on the side, place a body pillow (a standard king-size pillow works just as well) between the knees, then lean the chest and abdomen against it. This posture recreates the comfort of stomach sleeping while reducing the mechanical stress on the cervical spine.

4. Help Patients Avoid Bad Pillows

Just as DCs had differing views on their top chiropractor-recommended pillow, they also held varied opinions on which pillows might be the wrong fit for certain sleepers.

No pillow: 45.5%
Feather/ down pillow: 32.7%
Memory foam pillow: 16.4%
Adjustable fill pillow: 13.6%
Fiberfill/ polyester pillow: 13.6%
Traditional foam pillow: 11.8%
Latex pillow: 11.8%

💬 Top Quote: For a side sleeper, the only thing worse than a bad pillow is no pillow at all - and your neck will usually remind you in the morning.

5. Recommend Reputable Brands You Trust

Slightly more than half of the surveyed DCs sell pillows in their clinic or on their website.

When it comes to specific brands, chiropractors who sell pillows made callouts to a few trusted names.

Chiroflow/Mediflow – 16 mentions
Pillowise – 13 mentions
Therapeutica – 9 mentions
Core/TriCore/D-core – 7 mentions
Foot Levelers/PilloPedic – 6 mentions

Chiroflow/Mediflow received the most mentions, reflecting its long-standing reputation among water-based adjustable pillow advocates. Pillowise followed closely behind, frequently stocked as a chiropractor-recommended pillow for side sleepers or back sleepers because of its customizable fitting system that helps match patients to individual needs. Other frequently recommended pillow brands included Therapeutica, Core/TriCore/D-Core, and Foot Levelers’ PilloPedic models, which several DCs noted as their most recommended pillows for neck pain.

These findings show that while preferences differ, chiropractors tend to favor brands that emphasize support, comfort, and personalization.

6. Assess Pillow Lifespan

Most chiropractors recommend replacing pillows every 1–2 years, especially if any of the following signs appear:

Loss of shape or loft
Lumpy fill or uneven support
Waking up with discomfort, pain, or stiffness

There is no universal time frame for pillow replacement. Pillow material is often closely tied to lifespan. Feather and down pillows tend to compress quickly and can lose loft within months, while orthopedic contoured designs or water-based pillows may maintain their support for three to five years.

Most chiropractors agree that the calendar matters less than the patient’s experience: when a pillow causes pain, stiffness, or poor support, it’s time to replace it.

7. Don’t Underestimate the Role of Education

Patients who sleep on the wrong pillow often experience persistent symptoms and slower recovery, leaving them frustrated with their lack of progress. Your pillow recommendations are sometimes as important as your in-office care, especially when it comes to identifying hidden culprits.

The challenge is time. Our prior mattress survey (11) found that 80% of chiropractors spend at least 3–5 minutes of (unpaid 🙁) consulting time every time a patient asks, “So doc, what mattress do chiropractors recommend?” Pillows present a similar problem.

That’s why we’ve compiled your best collective advice into practical, ready-to-use tools for our subscribers: an infographic and an ADL you can attach to any ChiroUp Condition Report. These resources streamline patient education, reinforce your recommendations, and give patients a visual takeaway they’ll actually use.

If you like what you see, be sure to explore our popular earlier blog on 5 Chiropractic Recommendations for the Best Type of Mattress.

💬 Top Quote: I always ask about the pillow for new presentations or plateaus. It’s often a hidden culprit.

Bonus: Ready-to-Use Resources

Whether patients are asking you about the best pillows or most appropriate mattresses, the education challenge is the same: most chiropractors lose several minutes every time the question comes up. (11) With ChiroUp resources, that conversation can shrink to about 15 seconds. A simple response might be:

“Great question! I’m part of a team of chiropractors who work together to define the best care and recommendations for you. I’ll share some research and advice we compiled to help you choose what’s best. Please look it over and let me know if you have any questions.”

ChiroUp subscribers can deliver that information in two quick ways:

Attach the Pillow Selection or Mattress Replacement ADL to any Condition Report. (Customize it anytime for total education automation.)
Download or print the infographics directly from your Forms Library (just search by name).

These tools save cumulative hours each year while ensuring your patients receive consistent, evidence-based guidance to help them recover more quickly.

Conclusion

A supportive pillow isn’t just about comfort; it’s a critical extension of the care you provide in the office. By guiding patients toward the best pillows for their individual sleep posture, body type, and clinical condition, you can reduce recurrence, improve outcomes, and build long-term compliance.

Whether you recommend contoured cervical support pillows, adaptive memory foam, water-based pillows, or something else, let individual clinical need drive the choice. And don’t forget to always ask what your patients are currently sleeping on, it might just explain their stubborn symptoms.

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11. ChiroUp. 5 chiropractic recommendations for the best type of mattress [Internet]. 2022 Nov 2. Available from: Link