6 Best Contour Pillows

Some of us tend to overlook the importance of pillows and how they affect our sleep. Your pillow affects your comfort, quality of sleep, and whether you wake up feeling well-rested or achy and uncomfortable.

Contour pillows are excellent choices when looking for a reliable and supportive pillow. They’re shaped to suit the shape of your neck and head, promoting healthy spinal alignment among other benefits.

We’ve made a list of the best contour pillows to help you start sleeping more comfortably and reduce any neck or head pain you might be dealing with. Plus, we share some fun facts about how contour pillows can help your sleep.

Best Contour Pillows

Best Contour Pillow

The Amerisleep Flex Pillow offers customized comfort to improve your sleep and minimize head and neck pain at night. Based on how you shape the pillow, it’ll be softer or firmer and contour to the curves of your head and neck. Customers note how the pillow contours under their heads as they sleep, making it easy to stay comfortable during the night.

Amerisleep fills the Flex Pillow with MicroFlex cushions, tiny pieces of foam built so you can easily adjust the pillow. Air can flow throughout the cushions, ensuring the pillow doesn’t get hot and you sleep undisturbed.

The Flex Pillow’s cover is soft and breathable. Also, the cover features a small zipper so you can easily clean it.

The Amerisleep Flex pillow comes with free shipping and a 10-year warranty.

The Zoma Pillow—also coined as the Sports Pillow—is a durable and cooling pillow great for people who switch positions throughout the night. Customers love the pillow because they can easily adjust the loft and firmness. Plus, the pillow doesn’t aggravate people’s allergies, making it easier to sleep.

Inside the Zoma Pillow are hundreds of MicroCushions™, shredded pieces of foam you can adjust to suit your sleeping preferences. And, unlike down or other fibrous, the MicroCushions™ don’t need regular fluffing and won’t go flat.

The Zoma Pillow ships for free within the contiguous US and comes with a 10-year warranty covering defects and wear.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

Contour pillows can get quite steep, price-wise, but the Vaya Pillow is both affordable and supportive. Although it has a standard rectangular shape, it’s easy to shape this adjustable pillow to provide extra support for your neck and head.

The Vaya Pillow contains the Vaya Foam Blend, a durable shredded material. It doesn’t require fluffing to maintain it, but you can instead flatten or fluff the foam blend to adjust the pillow’s loft. The foam is CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning it’s free of harsh chemicals, flame retardants, and is low in VOCs.

The Vaya Pillow ships to your home for free and comes with a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

The Purple Harmony pillow is unlike any other pillow on the market. It features a latex core and is encased in Purple Grid® Hex, a variation of Purple’s proprietary Purple Grid® used in all of their mattresses. It has a supportive, yet soft feel and is great for helping people stay asleep longer at night.

Purple Grid® Hex is a honeycomb-shaped foam that makes up the outer layer of the Purple Harmony pillow. This gel-like material contains up to 2000 air channels designed to dissipate body heat and snap back into shape as you switch positions.

Inside the grid-like outer casing is the Talalay latex core. It’s durable, ventilated, and responsive. Plus, the latex is plush and pressure-relieving to soothe neck pain.

Purple offers a 100-night sleep trial, 1-year warranty, and free shipping and returns for their pillows.

SEE ALSO: Purple Mattress Reviews

As the name suggests, the Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow is for side sleepers who are looking for more support during the night. Side sleepers need the thickest and firmest pillows of all sleeping positions because their head and neck are so far from their bed while sleeping. Customers love it for soothing their neck pain and preventing stiffness in the mornings.

The Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow is Eli & Elm’s most unique pillow. It has a U-shape, with an arch at the top and two short legs extending on either side of the pillow. Eli & Elm designed their pillow this way so regardless of which side you sleep on, you have a place to comfortably rest your hands while supporting spinal alignment.

Inside the pillow is a blend of shredded latex and polyester. You can adjust the pillow’s height and support level by unzipping the pillow and adding or removing the filling as needed. The pillow’s cotton cover features minimal levels of polyester and spandex.

The Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow comes with free shipping and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

SEE ALSO: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

The Original Pillow by Coop Home Goods is an adjustable microfiber and memory foam-filled pillow. It’s Coop Home Goods’ most popular pillow thanks to its customizability. The pillow comes with an extra half-pound of fill so you can add or remove the microfiber and foam to fit your personal needs.

The memory foam in the Original Pillow has a criss-cross shape and a medium-firm feel. The foam is both GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning it’s free of harsh chemicals and won’t off-gas—that factory-like, “new car” smell some foams have. Mixed with microfiber, this hypoallergenic fill is breathable and hypoallergenic.

Over the microfiber and memory foam blend fill is a Lulltra™ cover, which is made from a blend of high-quality polyester and bamboo-derived rayon. It’s breathable, soft, and machine washable. And with its zipper, you can easily add or remove the filling.

The Original Pillow comes with free shipping and returns.

What are Contour Pillows?

Contour pillows are pillows uniquely designed to provide extra support for the head and neck. Unlike standard rectangular pillows, contour pillows are built to align the spine by following the shape of your head and neck. Not all cervical pillows have the same construction, but they normally feature curves to support the neck and craters to fit the head.

Some other names for contour pillows include cervical pillows, neck pillows, travel pillows, and orthopedic pillows.

Types of Contour Pillows

Contour pillows come in a wide variety of fills to fit different budgets, comfort preferences, and more. Your contour pillow’s fill is key to when to replace a pillow and supports your head.

Memory Foam

Memory foam pillows are the most popular type of contour pillow for being supportive, yet still pressure-relieving. They come in various price points and styles to suit all types of sleepers. Some popular types of memory foam include plant-based, gel, copper, or graphite-infused as they are cooling and often hypoallergenic.

You can find contour memory foams in two forms: shredded or solid.

Shredded memory foam is ripped-up pieces of foam while solid is a single block of foam. Shredded foam pillows are plush, malleable, and breathable. Conversely, solid foam pillows are firm, durable, and provide ample support.

Latex

Latex contour pillows are springy and cooling so you’re never left feeling hot or unsupported at night. While latex doesn’t have the same “hug-like” feel memory foam does, it still soothes pressure build-up to relieve pain. It’s also hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and other bacteria.

Similar to memory foam contour pillows, latex pillows come in both shredded and solid forms. Shredded latex pillows are soft and adjustable, but solid latex pillows are firm and sturdy.

Feather

Feathers are a durable fill that comes from ducks and geese. A feather pillow breathable, antimicrobial, and long-lasting, which makes it a reliable fill choice. However, feathers have quills on the end of them which can poke through your pillowcase. This leads to feathers falling out—causing the pillow to slowly flatten—and potentially scratching you.

Down

Down is a fill from the underbelly feathers of ducks and geese. Unlike standard feathers, down is naturally soft and fine, yet still durable and cooling. Also, down doesn’t have pokey quills that disrupt the surface of a soft pillow, so it won’t break through the pillowcase and scratch you.

While down is a soft and fluffy fill, it’s expensive and an animal product, so it isn’t great for people with allergies. Not only that but down isn’t the most supportive fill, like feathers. If you’re considering a contour pillow with down feathers, look for a contour pillow with both down and foam to ensure you’re well supported.

Down Alternative

Down alternative contour pillows is an excellent choice for budget shoppers or allergy sufferers. They feel similar to traditional feather or down pillows, but don’t feature animal feathers and aren’t nearly as expensive. Even then, down alternative doesn’t perfectly replicate down or feathers.

The problem with down alternative is it doesn’t last as long as real down. Down alternative pillows develop lumps and flatten rapidly, and they aren’t as fluffy as down. Not just that, but down alternative is more likely to retain heat and moisture than down or feathers, leading to mildew and mold build-up.

Buckwheat

Also known as Sobakawa, buckwheat pillows are popular for their firmness and support level. Buckwheat pillows are full of buckwheat hulls, which are naturally sustainable and biodegradable. Plus, the hulls are dust-mite resistant and antimicrobial. Lastly, buckwheat pillows are often a fill used in cooling pillows.

While buckwheat pillows are eco-friendly and supportive, they aren’t the most comfortable pillow out there. The hulls feel stiff and may crunch under your head, so they’re much noisier than other types of pillows.

Pros of Contour Pillows

Contour pillows are a great upgrade from your usual pillow, especially if you sleep on your side or back. They’re particularly helpful for aligning the spine, soothing pain, and helping you breathe better.

Aligns Spine

One of the main benefits of contour pillows is how they align the spine. Contour pillows keep your head and neck properly aligned, keeping you comfortable and preventing muscle and joint pain. Reduced pain makes it easier to fall and stay asleep, helping you feel energized and alert in the mornings.

Relieves Head and Neck Pain

Another major reason people prefer contour pillows over standard pillows is that they curve under your head and neck, reducing pain around your joints and muscles. By alleviating head and neck pain, you’re less likely to experience headaches or migraines during the day.

Minimizes Snoring and Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Lying flat at night is a sure way to block your airways, causing you to snore or worsening obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. Both snoring and sleep apnea are disruptive to you and those sleeping around you, with sleep apnea being dangerous in certain situations.

Contour pillows naturally lift your head and neck so you maintain good posture. By doing so, your upper body is slightly lifted, keeping the airways in your throat open and alleviating snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

Suits Many Sleeping Positions

Contour pillows work well for side and back sleepers, and people who switch between both positions. Both side and back sleepers benefit from extra neck support to keep their spine aligned. Plus, contour pillows ensure side, back, and combo sleepers don’t deal with pain or breathing problems throughout the night.

SEE ALSO: Best Pillows for Back Sleepers: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Cons of Contour Pillows

Although contour pillows can be great, they’re not always the best type of pillow for everyone. Whether you’re tight on money or prefer sleeping on your stomach, a contour pillow may not interest you.

Expensive

Due to their unique design, contour pillows tend to be pricier compared to standard rectangular pillows. They can cost between $50 to $200 on average, while normal pillows can cost as low as $10. While cheap standard pillows usually won’t last long, it may be all a person can afford, whereas contour pillows can be a luxury.

Uncomfortable for Stomach Sleepers

Although contour pillows are great for back, side, and stomach sleepers, you’d be pressed to find a pillow that works for stomach sleeping. Stomach sleepers need the thinnest pillows to keep their spine aligned, and the arch, high-loft shape of contour pillows would cause pain and misalignment.

FAQs

What is the best contour pillow for neck pain?

If you struggle with chronic neck pain, it’s important to use a supportive pillow that keeps your neck aligned with your spine. An overly thick or thin pillow for your sleeping position will aggravate your neck, aggravating your pain, if not causing it.

When struggling with neck pain, we recommend trying pillows such as the Purple Harmony Pillow, Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow, or Zoma Pillow.

What is the best contour pillow for migraines?

When dealing with migraines, your contour pillow should ensure your spine is properly aligned without being overly firm. Too firm of a pillow can cause head pain and lead to headaches or migraines.

Some of the best pillows for migraine sufferers include the Amerisleep Flex Pillow, Zoma Pillow, and Vaya Pillow.

What is the best contour pillow for side sleepers?

Side sleepers need thick and firm contour pillows to support the wide space between their head and the mattress. High-loft contour pillows thicker than 6 or 7 inches provide optimal support when side sleeping.

Several contour pillows you may consider for side sleeping include the Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow or The Original Pillow by Coop Home Goods.

What’s the best contour pillow for back sleepers?

The best contour pillows for back sleepers feature craters for the head to rest on and arches to support the neck. This shape promotes optimal spinal alignment and prevents neck or head pain.

A few of our favorite contour pillows for back sleepers are Amerisleep Flex Pillow, Zoma Pillow, and The Original Pillow by Coop Home Goods.

Why does my pillow hurt my head?

Your pillow may be hurting your head because it’s the wrong type of pillow for your needs. This could mean your pillow is the wrong firmness or loft for your sleeping position. For instance, if you’re a stomach sleeper but your pillow is too firm, it may lead to discomfort and pain around your neck.

Another reason your pillow may be causing pain is that it’s gotten flat or lumpy and no longer supports your head as needed. In this case, it’s simply time to replace your pillow.

Conclusion

Contour pillows are unlike any other and provide substantial benefits when sleeping. Whether you prefer a malleable pillow or one customized for your sleeping positions, the options are endless. So, use our guide as a reference when shopping for a contour pillow to ensure you find the best option for you.