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We’ve researched and reviewed nontoxic mattresses and bedding for years. For this guide, we chose the best pillows to ease neck pain and support restorative sleep.
If you’re constantly waking up with a crick or a knot in your neck for seemingly no reason, it might be your pillow to blame.
We spend a lot of time sleeping — and that’s why at The Good Trade we spend a lot of time covering bedding and sleep products like mattresses and sheets made of natural, nontoxic materials. It’s easy to overlook pillows, but sometimes they’re the number one swap that’ll level up your bedding situation, giving you a more aligned neck and spine and keep you cool through the night.
While pillows aren’t a substitute for medical care, choosing one suited to your sleep position and support needs may help reduce morning stiffness and nighttime discomfort. The next time you need to replace your pillow (and that might be sooner than you think, since mattresses should be replaced every one to two years), consider investing in a product that’s almost guaranteed to give you a better night’s sleep. Read on for our top picks on pillows to alleviate neck pain that are made with natural, nontoxic materials.
What should you look for when shopping for a supportive pillow for neck pain?
When shopping for a supportive pillow for neck pain, it’s crucial to think about your sleeping position — whether you’re a stomach, back, or side sleeper determines how much loft your pillow should have for optimal neck support.
Stomach sleepers tend to need lower, softer pillows, back sleepers need pillows with medium loft, and side sleepers need pillows with high loft. Adjustable pillows, those which have removable fill so you can choose how much loft and firmness your pillow has, are ideal for people who don’t sleep in just one position — so you can adjust the pillow to your preferences.
In the below list, you’ll find pillows with fill made of shredded latex, wool, cotton, synthetic foam, or down, and sometimes a combination of different fill materials. Latex is one of the best pillow fills — it’s natural (made from rubber trees), naturally breathable, gives great buoyancy without losing its shape and, when shredded, is easy to remove or add to your pillow for the perfect loft.
Our criteria:
Our editors have researched expert recommendations, reviewed sleep science literature, and tested pillows across a variety of sleep styles to determine the most supportive options for waking up pain-free. When selecting the best pillows for neck pain, our top considerations are support, comfort, durability, and long-term value. We often revisit this guide to add new picks when they meet the criteria below.
- ORGANIC & NONTOXIC | Each of these brands uses non-toxic, organic materials with no off-gassing. We prioritize pillows made with materials and certifications intended to reduce exposure to certain toxic chemicals of concern, including harsh flame retardants and PFAS, where noted.
- SUPPORT & ALIGNMENT | The best pillows for neck pain help keep the head, neck, and spine in a neutral position throughout the night. We prioritized pillows with natural materials that maintain their shape and offer support for different sleep positions. Some even have adjustable fill so you can customize to your needs.
- QUALITY & DURABILITY | A pillow that flattens quickly won’t provide consistent support. We chose brands known for thoughtful construction, quality materials, and warranties that stand behind their products.
Looking for more neck support? Check out our guides to the best side sleeper pillows, wool pillows, and firm pillows. And for more natural sleep products, discover our favorite organic mattresses and organic bedding.
1. Avocado
Best For | Sustainable certifications/materials
Our Pick | Avocado Green Pillow: Adjustable Organic Bed Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Adjustable firmness & loft
Natural Materials | GOLS latex, GOTS cotton & kapok fiber
Price | Starting at $118
Avocado’s bedding products are some of the most certified on the market, with B Corp, Made Safe, GOTS, GOLS, and Oeko Tex certifications — and more. Handmade in Los Angeles, Avocado’s Adjustable Organic Bed Pillow is our number one pillow pick for neck pain for its makeup of 100% natural, organic materials. The pillow comprises a GOTS-certified cotton jersey cover stuffed with a fill of GOLS-certified shredded latex along with organic kapok fiber, a fluffy cotton-like fiber that’s soft and light, and grown without pesticides — the fill is nice and airy so it sleeps cool. The pillow comes with extra fill so you can customize its firmness, giving your neck the support and loft that’s right for you. It comes in standard, queen, and king sizes, and both a regular rectangle shape and a curved side-sleeper shape. And if you buy the pillow in a two-pack, you’ll save 10%.
Customer Review | “I’m a side sleeper primarily and this pillow is the perfect combination of firm and soft. It’s not too tall so I don’t wake up with a sore neck anymore. Add in the non toxic features and it’s perfect!” – Becky (Read more reviews.)
2. Birch
Best For | Wool for plushness
Our Pick | Birch Organic Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Adjustable firmness, high loft
Natural Materials | GOLS latex, organic cotton & wool
Price | Starting at $159
Birch’s Organic Pillow is made of nothing but natural, organic materials. It has a shredded latex core and you can adjust the amount of fill in the pillow to create the perfect firmness level for you. The shredded latex core is wrapped in an outer layer of organic wool for its plushness, support, and loft to support your neck — wool also has moisture-wicking abilities to keep you comfortable through the night. The pillow has an organic cotton cover for its softness and breathability. Like all of Birch’s bedding products, the pillow offers eco-friendly comfort without compromise. And Birch makes committing easy — the pillow comes with a 30-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty, along with free US shipping.
Customer Review | “This pillow is amazing! It’s heavy, firm yet just right, not hard at all. I was having issues with neck pain and the first night, this alleviated it. It’s not hot, doesn’t make me sweat, and feels just right when I lay my head on it every night.” – Kelli S. (Read more reviews.)
3. Coyuchi
Best For | Comes with pillow protector
Our Pick | Organic Shredded Latex Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Adjustable firmness & loft
Natural Materials | GOLS latex, GOTS cotton
Price | Starting at $138
This simple, adjustable Organic Shredded Latex Pillow by Coyuchi is made in Sri Lanka with nothing but GOLS-certified shredded organic latex and GOTS-certified organic cotton shells. The shredded Dunlop latex is removable and rearrangeable so you can get the support you need with a breathable, cushiony feel. And it’s all encased in two cotton cases — the inner shell is non-removeable and made of a soft jersey knit cotton, and the outer shell is a removable and machine-washable pillow protector made of a densely woven 400-count sateen cotton. Coyuchi is all about creating bedding products that are gentle on the planet but still accessible and affordable, and this pillow is no exception.
Customer Review | “I looked at reviews for hours before purchasing this pillow and I could not be more happy with my choice. I do not like pillows that my head sinks deep into as a side sleeper. This stays firm but in a fluffy and supportive way. I am also not a fan of true ‘memory foam’ pillows and this was nothing like that. I did the high loft fill and personally love it. I feel like it supports my neck weightlessly.” – Anonymous (Read more reviews.)
4. Boll & Branch
Best For | Down fill
Our Pick | Down Chamber Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Soft, Medium & Firm fill options; high loft
Natural Materials | Down, feathers, organic cotton
Price | Starting at $159
Boll & Branch’s Down Chamber Pillow is made of nothing but down and 100% organic cotton, and it comes in three firmness levels to match your preferences and sleeping style. The pillow is constructed with a three-chamber design so it stays lofty and fluffy, and its organic cotton cover is a dense percale weave that’s naturally down-proof. The Soft density is filled with nothing but down and is best for stomach sleepers. The Medium density is designed with the right amount of fill for back sleepers and the Firm density is best for side sleepers to properly support the neck and spine, and both have a feather and down core surrounded by a soft layer of down. Boll & Branch’s down is IDS (International Down Standard) certified. And the pillows are even machine washable — they just might take a few dryer cycles to dry because of their high loft.
Customer Review | “Have tried so many different pillows with no neck pain relief. I remember my grandparents having down pillows and how much I liked them. I like that they aren’t too fluffy and that you can fluff them up to how you like. They remind me of luxury hotel pillows. Hands down best pillow ever.” – Virginia (Read more reviews.)
5. Naturepedic
Best For | Breathability
Our Pick | Adjustable Organic Latex Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Adjustable firmness & loft
Natural Materials | GOLS or FSC latex, organic cotton
Price | Starting at $139
Our Naturepedic pick is another shredded latex option — their Adjustable Organic Latex Pillow option. It’s made in the US with GOLS or FSC-certified latex that’s been finely shredded and combined with organic cotton fiber — about 10% of the total fill — for even more breathability. The adjustable pillow comes with extra fill, too, so you can add or remove fill as needed to get the right amount of support for your neck. The pillow has an inner organic cotton jersey cover and an outer cover that’s also 100% cotton — and it’s machine washable so the pillow is easy to care for. Naturepedic is a TGT favorite brand for its large lineup of organic and natural bedding products made in the US. And while this adjustable latex pillow is our pick for neck support specifically, the brand makes several other pillow options, too.
Customer Review | “This pillow saved my sanity. I’ve spent years and hundreds of dollars trying to find a pillow that doesn’t give me neck pain. This is the one!! As a side sleeper that sometimes rolls to my back, I need a pillow that has enough loft to support my neck but is still soft. Most pillows are either lofty but too firm or soft and flat. This pillow is perfect!” – Monica (Read more reviews.)
6. Nest Bedding
Best For | Affordability
Our Pick | Easy Breather Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Adjustable firmness & loft
Natural Materials | Certi-PUR US certified foam, cotton inner shell
Price | Starting at $59
Another adjustable, breathable pillow for neck pain is Nest Bedding’s Easy Breather Pillow. The pillow arrives intentionally overfilled and with an extra bag so you can take out some of the fill and store it to give your pillow the exact loft and firmness you’re looking for. The fill is made of 20% polyester fiber and 80% Certi-PUR US certified foam, ensuring a safe, nontoxic synthetic foam that won’t offgas potentially harmful compounds (and no undesirable odors!). And the foam is cut fairly large to ensure maximum airflow. This shredded foam and fiber fill is encased in a 100% cotton inner shell and an outer cover made of a synthetic fabric that’s especially designed to stay cool to the touch. The pillow comes in several different size and shape options, too, including side sleeper shapes and smaller Jr. sizes.
Customer Review | “It’s kept me cool, my neck supported, and my sleep has definitely improved since using it. I like the ability to adjust how much stuffing is in it, and that the cover is washable. I haven’t tried many different pillows, so I suppose there could be something better, but I wouldn’t know what that would be. For reference, I’m a side sleeper.” – Nicole R. (Read more reviews.)
7. Saatva
Best For | High loft
Our Pick | Cloud Memory Foam Pillow
Firmness & Loft | Medium firmness, medium & high loft options
Natural Materials | Certi-PUR US certified foam, latex, organic cotton
Price | Starting at $135
Saatva’s Cloud Memory Foam Pillow is made with a blend of both shredded gel-infused memory foam and shredded latex for tons of buoyancy and loft. The pillow is equal parts contouring and supportive since the latex keeps it more bouncy and the memory foam helps it shape to your head and neck. The memory foam is Certi-PUR US certified, and the fill is encased in an organic cotton knit cover. The pillow comes in two loft options — standard is 4 to 5 inches high, and high loft is 6 to 7 inches high (the higher loft is a great all-purpose pillow since it works for both side and combination sleepers). The pillow comes with free shipping, a 45-day free return period in case you don’t love it, and a one-year warranty. And, like all Saatva products, it’s made in the US.
Customer Review | “I’m so happy this pillow is all mine! It’s so comfortable and has helped me wake up feeling more refreshed and not sore. I have been experiencing neck and shoulder pain for a while and have tried different pillows with no success. This pillow offers just the right balance of support and it’s not too high. I did purchase the standard loft and sleep primarily on my stomach and side.” – Amy (Read more reviews.)
Avocado’s Molded Latex Pillow, courtesy of Courtney Jay Higgins for The Good Trade
Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
