Are you having trouble getting to sleep? If aches and pains are keeping you up at night, finding the best body pillow is a powerful and easy way to help relieve any tension. Many of us would love to wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested without a sore neck or back and it is easy to feel deflated when your quality of sleep is affecting your life.
If you've tried everything and no pillow seems to be doing the trick, the secret to your best sleep ever may not be a new mattress or head pillow, but a body pillow instead. Body pillows come in various materials and designs, with options for different levels of firmness and support. They can be filled with materials like memory foam, polyester fiber, or feathers, depending on personal preferences and some body pillows have removable, washable covers for easy cleaning.
The best body pillows at a glance
• Best Overall: Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow - View now on Amazon UK
• Best hypo-allergenic: Kally Sleep Kally Body Pillow - View now on Very
• Best value: Dunelm Dorma Full Forever Medium-Support Body Pillow - View now on Dunelm
We have rounded up the best body pillows on the market, from those that cling to all your achey joints to some that target a particular area. We've also answered all the frequently asked questions about body pillows, from how to use them, whether or not body pillows help with snoring to top tips on how to wash them.
The best body pillows
Best Overall
Description
Fed up with being unable to get a full eight hours? We hear you. If you're looking to make a small change to help you catch up on those ZZZs, this U-shaped Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow is a way forward. We love the U-shape as it supports your head, neck, spine, belly, back hips and legs. Use it in whatever position feels comfortable to you on the bed, sofa or even the floor. Don't forget, it's not just for pregnancy.
Customer review: "Ever since I have this I have great sleeps and I am a bad sleeper. Helps with my hip and shoulder pain and provides ergonomic position. Not only for pregnant women, I recommend for everyone! Even our dog loves snuggling in the curve."
Pros
- Very soft to touch
- Cover easy to remove
Cons
- Can take up a lot of room on your bed
Best for body support
Silentnightwww.silentnight.co.uk
Description
Whatever your preferred sleeping position, this body support pillow from Silentnight is here to help. It offers support for your back, hips, neck and stomach to help pain relief. You can hug it to relieve pressure on your shoulders, or place between the knees to aid spinal alignment and relieve lower back pain. Comes with a fitted soft-touch pillowcase for extra protection.
Reviewed by the Yours team: "I had a car accident a couple of years ago, and my back has never been the same since. A couple of rounds of physio later and I'm still suffering from neck, shoulder and lower back pain. I'd heard a lot about body support pillows from a couple of friends who had used them during pregnancy and was excited to try one out. I'm only three days into using my Silentnight Body Support Pillow, but I'm inseparable from it. It's great for extra support on the sofa; I use it to prop myself up and the way it hugs my back, relieving tension in my lower back. I'd usually have to get up and stretch around if I watch telly even for an hour, but with this pillow, it wasn't the case. "The only downside to this pillow so far is that it's absolutely massive. It's basically like two pillows put together, and it takes up a lot of room in my king size bed, something my partner isn't too happy with. That said, the results I'm experiencing when I'm sleeping with it is totally worth it. My neck and back are still stiff right now, but I've not woken up once in pain. This is usually a daily occurrence. I'm excited to see how this will continue to support me in the future."
Pros
- Made from good quality materials
- Good size
Cons
- Some reviews said it was too firm
Best hypo-allergenic
www.very.co.uk
Description
Snuggle up with the Kally Sleep Kally Body Pillow and feel supported all night long. Benefits include its hypo-allergenic materials, the supportive hollow-fibre interior which moulds to your body and that it's easy to clean.
Customer review: "This was bought for a friend, I got one a few weeks ago and I absolutely love it. My friend rang me to say she also loves it. A bit expensive I thought but it’s worth every last penny, very pleased from us both."
Pros
- Good value
- Great for back issues
- Moulds to your body
Cons
- Heavy
Best for luxury
Description
Make a statement with this C-shape pillow. It will change your life thanks to its ability to bring relief to leg swelling, improve blood circulation and provide good back support. This pillow features a detachable wedge pillow for extra-belly support . It provides substantial support for your abdome and it is easy to adjust or remove with velcro anytime.
Customer review: "
Best cooling
simbasleep.com
Description
If you're a side sleeper and in need of extra support but tend to get hot during the night, the SIMBA Cooling Body Pillow has been designed to provide comfortable hip and spinal alignment. This versatile pillow will provide support for nursing babies or additional back support when you’re sitting up. Also features a soft Simba Renew Bio™ fill, and a washable, cotton cover with Stratos cool-touch tech.
Customer review: "Its a revelation. I suffer from being too hot and this really helps to cool me down. It's comfortable and also helps with my back and allergies."
Pros
- Great for hot sleepers as it helps regulate your body temperature
- Cotton cover
- Good for side sleepers
Cons
- Some reviews say they wish there were additional covers to buy
Best value
www.dunelm.com
Description
If you're after a great quality body pillow at an affordable price, this Dorma Medium-Support Body Pillow is ideal for allergy sufferers thanks to its excellent non-allergenic properties. Despite the affordable price point, the pillow is complete with a premium 233 thread count and double stitched edging for added durability. Contains a blend of recycled fibre.
Customer review: "Great pillow - firm - comfortable, great for reading in bed as it supports back."
Pros
- Made from recycled polyester and responsibly sourced cotton
Cons
- Some reviews say they think it is too firm
Best wedge pillow
Description
Not just for use in pregnancy, wedge pillows are a great choice if you want some relief on your joints but don't want to battle with a huge pillow. The SHANNA Wedge Pregnancy Pillow adapts to the natural contour and shape of your body and provides comfortable support for the stomach and waist. With a movable part design, you can easily adjust the distance between the two wedges to find a comfortable position.
Pros
- Lightweight and small
- Adjustable
Cons
- Targeted to pregnancy
Best body pillow FAQs
Now that you have decided which body pillow is right for you, we've answered some commonly asked questions around body pillows and how they will help you have a good night's sleep.
What are body pillows used for?
What you use your body pillow for is completely up to you! Generally speaking, here are some of the best benefits of using a body pillow:
• Find a comfortable sleeping position
• Pressure point relief
• Improve blood circulation
• Spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers
• Helps with posture
• Incredible pregnancy support for belly, legs and head
Do body pillows help with snoring?
According to the NHS website, "Snoring is caused by things such as your tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your nose vibrating as you breathe. It happens because these parts of your body relax and narrow when you're asleep."
Body pillows can help reduce snoring, as it'll help open up the airways by aligning the head and neck. Discover more advice around snoring and things you can do to help you stop snoring here.
Can body pillows help with back pain?
Body pillows can absolutely help with back pain. Not only do they help with pressure point relief, but these pillows will help you find a comfortable position whether you're sleeping, working or relaxing on the sofa.
How to wash body pillows:
Washing your body pillow is easy, once you understand the steps you need to take. Each body pillow will have different wash care instructions, so before you head straight for the washing machine, read the label.
Not able to find the care instructions? Reach out to the manufacturer! They'll be able to point you in the right direction to find information on how to wash your body pillow.
If you have a body pillow that has a cover, please check whether or not you can wash both the cover and pillow itself.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's rennovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle, three cats and a tortoise called Bobby.
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