What are body pillows used for?

Body pillows are most often used to reduce strain on the hips, legs, and shoulders while sleeping. In addition to minimizing aches and pains and ensuring a comfortable position throughout the night, some are designed to offer pressure relief and promote a natural spinal alignment. Having said that, lots of folks simply like to have something to cuddle with at night—and to each their own.

When should you opt for a body pillow over a normal pillow?

If you're having trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position or are placing smaller pillows between your knees or under your hips at night, a body pillow might be a good solution. While it's not necessarily a replacement for a normal bed pillow—lots of folks like to use both—some designs offer support for your head and neck, eliminating the need for a standard pillow.

How do you wash a body pillow?

While some are machine-washable, others call for spot cleaning or dry-cleaning only. Ideally, your body pillow will have a removable case you can wash and dry along with your other bedding. In some cases, you can also clean the core in a standard washing machine and tumble-dry it, but it's best to check the manufacturer's care instructions to be sure.

Here's Our List of the 9 Best Body Pillows of 2022

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Commerce Photo Composite — The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang

Offering support and cushioning where you need it most, a good body pillow might be the key to your most restful night's sleep. We researched today's best offerings, evaluating each based on material, shape, and firmness.

Our number one pick is the Coop Home Goods Original Body Pillow, which is filled with CertiPUR-US certified shredded memory foam that you can adjust to your preferred plushness.

Ahead, the best body pillows currently on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Coop Home Goods Body Pillow at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Utopia Bedding Body Pillow at Amazon

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Best for Side Sleepers:

Zoma Body Pillow at Zomasleep.com

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Best U-Shaped:

Coyuchi Organic Body Pillow at Wayfair

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Best Down:

The Company Store Feather and Down Body Pillow at Thecompanystore.com

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Best Down-Alternative:

Pluto Puff at Plutopillow.com

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Best for Pregnancy:

Yana Sleep Body Pillow at Walmart

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Best Colors:

Sunday Citizen Snug Body Pillow at Ilargentousa.com

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Best Eco-Friendly:

Buffy Body Pillow at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust The Spruce?

4.7

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Walmart

What We Like

Adjustable fill
Machine-washable cover
CertiPUR-US certified

What We Don't Like

Fill requires special care

If we could only choose one body pillow to sleep with until the end of time, we'd have to go with the Original Body Pillow from Coop Home Goods. This incredible cuddly sleeping companion is filled with a proprietary blend of CertiPUR-US certified shredded memory foam and microfiber, which you can adjust to achieve the level of support and plushness you crave. The shell is made of the brand's Lulltra fabric, an exceptionally soft and super breathable blend of bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester.

Thanks to the stretchy inner liner and interlocking dual-case system, it's easy to add and remove fill fibers as needed. Though the fill requires special care—wash it in a separate delicates bag for best results—the outer shell is conveniently machine-washable. This body pillow measures 54 x 20 inches. Whether you're looking for hip support, help with alignment, or just something to snuggle up with at night, you really can't go wrong.

Shell Material: Viscose-poly blend | Fill Material: Shredded memory foam, microfiber | Dimensions: 54 x 20 inches | Weight: 8 pounds

Courtesy of Amazon.

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Breathable shell
Plush yet supportive

What We Don't Like

Not machine-washable
Not adjustable

For folks on a budget, we suggest the Ultra-Soft Body Pillow from Utopia Bedding. Measuring 54 x 20 inches, it's filled with 2,000 grams of polyester fibers to provide the perfect balance of plushness and support. The poly-cotton blend shell is woven with a thread count of 250 to provide breathability while you sleep.

Bear in mind this body pillow isn't adjustable. It doesn't have a removable cover, either, and it's not machine-washable—spot cleaning and hand-washing are recommended. Still, you really can't beat the price.

Shell Material: Poly-cotton blend | Fill Material: Polyester | Dimensions: 54 x 20 inches | Weight: 5 pounds

Courtesy of Zoma.

View On Zomasleep.com

What We Like

Machine-washable
CertiPUR-US certified
10-year warranty

What We Don't Like

Pricey
Not adjustable

Calling all side sleepers! The Zoma Body Pillow was designed with your comfort in mind. Filled with the brand's MicroCushions, a moldable blend of CertiPUR-US certified shredded memory foam and down-alternative fibers, it keeps your hips and arms propped up so your spine doesn't fall out of alignment.

According to the maker, you can expect more restful sleep and fewer aches and pains come morning time. The AirCloth shell is an ultra-soft and supremely stretchy poly-spandex blend. While this body pillow isn't adjustable, we appreciate that both the core and cover are machine-washable. Plus, Zoma backs it with a 10-year warranty.

Shell Material: Poly-spandex blend | Fill Material: Shredded memory foam, down-alternative | Dimensions: 52 x 17 inches | Weight: Not listed

The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers to Rest Easy

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What We Like

Unique cylindrical design
Eco-friendly
GOTS and GOLS-certified

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Interested in a U-shaped design? Look no further than Coyuchi. This cylindrical body pillow is 68 inches long (when it's straightened out) and 7.5 inches in diameter. Inside, you'll find buoyant yet breathable molded latex—an eco-friendly alternative to traditional foam—to ensure full-body support.

Both the latex core and machine-washable sateen cotton cover are certified organic. This body pillow is also biodegradable and antimicrobial, meaning it resists mold and mildew growth. More to the point, the unique shape allows you to curve it into a horseshoe or keep it straight, depending on your preferred sleeping position.

Shell Material: Organic sateen cotton | Fill Material: Organic latex | Dimensions: 68 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 5 pounds

Company Essentials Feather and Down Body Pillow Insert

Courtesy of The Company Store.

View On Thecompanystore.com

What We Like

Sweat-wicking
RDS-certified
Lifetime guarantee

What We Don't Like

Cover not included
Not the most supportive

If you're partial to down, the Body Pillow Insert is your best bet. It's filled with a blend of natural feathers and down sourced from the undercoats of geese. This product is certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) to ensure the materials are humanely sourced.

Down is a naturally breathable, insulating, and moisture-wicking material. This means it'll keep you as cozy or cool as you want it to while drawing sweat away from your body as you doze. As for the shell, you're looking at an incredibly soft and smooth cotton twill woven with a 200 thread count to ensure adequate airflow. On the fence about your purchase? The Company Store backs this product with a lifetime guarantee.

Shell Material: Cotton twill | Fill Material: Down, feathers | Dimensions: 72 x 20 inches | Weight: Not listed

Courtesy of Pluto.

View On Plutopillow.com

What We Like

Vegan-friendly
Supportive
Machine-washable

What We Don't Like

Pricey
Somewhat heavy

If you're allergic to real down or just prefer vegan bed products, the Pluto Puff is a prime choice. The down-alternative fill consists of notably lofty poly fibers. Designed to mimic the fluffiness of natural feathers with a fill power of 600, it's incredibly plush and super fluffy.

The removable quilted cover is a poly-cotton blend. We appreciate that both the cover and the core are machine-washable. Weighing 12 pounds, this body pillow is on the heavier side. However, this makes it all the more cuddly and supportive.

Shell Material: Poly-cotton blend | Fill Material: Polyester down-alternative | Dimensions: 54 x 21 inches | Weight: 12 pounds

Courtesy of Yana.

View On Walmart View On Brookstone.com View On Yanasleep.com

What We Like

Supportive
Machine-washable cover
Oeko-Tex certified

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Somewhat heavy

The best option for pregnancy is Yana's 360° Body Pillow. It's filled with cooling gel for those prone to night sweats or natural latex harvested from rubber trees. The latter is notably resilient, holding its shape to offer lasting support where you need it most.

Made of eucalyptus, the shell is naturally moisture-wicking and exceptionally soft. It's removable and machine-washable too. At 14 pounds, this body pillow is slightly heavy. And while we wish it was a bit more affordable, it might be worth a splurge considering the quality, OEKO-TEX certification, and unbeatable comfort.

Shell Material: Eucalyptus | Fill Material: Latex or cooling gel | Dimensions: 55 x 28.5 inches | Weight: 14 pounds

Courtesy of Sunday Citizen.

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What We Like

Decorative
Supportive
Machine-washable cover

What We Don't Like

Not adjustable
CertiPUR-US certified

We also like Sunday Citizen's Snug Body Pillow. It has a plush yet supportive memory foam core that promises to alleviate strain on your pressure points. Reminiscent of crushed velvet, the shell is a soft, machine-washable microfiber.

This pillow comes in nine chic colors ranging from blush to charcoal to sienna. In addition to offering support and comfort while you sleep, it can be used as a decorative lumbar pillow. Though the Snug isn't adjustable or CertiPUR-US certified, it's a great multi-purpose product with an aesthetically pleasing design.

Shell Material: Microfiber | Fill Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: 48 x 14 inches | Weight: Not listed

Best Memory Foam Pillows That Support Good Sleep

Courtesy of Amazon.

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What We Like

Made with recycled materials
Renewable eucalyptus shell
Thermo-regulating

What We Don't Like

Not adjustable
Dry-clean recommended

Want something as easy on the environment as it is on your joints? Check out Buffy's Cloud Body Pillow. The recycled polyester fill is sourced from landfill-bound plastic bottles and offers a marshmallow-like loftiness you won't want to let go of.

What's more, the Tencel lyocell cover is woven from the natural cellulose fibers found in the pulp of eucalyptus wood. Since eucalyptus trees regrow quickly after harvesting, the material is considered renewable. It's also absorbent and moisture-wicking with natural thermo-regulating abilities to keep you comfortable throughout the night. Though it's not adjustable or machine-washable, this is a prime choice for anyone looking to live a little greener.

Shell Material: Tencel lyocell | Fill Material: Recycled polyester | Dimensions: 54 x 20 inches | Weight: 5.5 pounds

We Researched the Best Places to Buy Pillows—Here Are Our Top Picks

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Coop Home Goods Original Body Pillow. Filled with shredded memory foam and microfiber with an adjustable loft and a stretchy, breathable cover, it's just the thing for any sleeping style. If you're on a budget, we recommend the Utopia Bedding, a super-plush sleeping companion with a soft, breathable shell.

Material

The first thing to look for when buying a body pillow is the material. Most are filled with memory foam, whether shredded or a solid slab. Though it's not typically the most breathable material, it won't trap as much heat if it's cut into pieces—extra points if it's CertiPUR-US certified.

You can also find options with natural down or feather fill, an inherently breathable and moisture-wicking material. Then there are poly-filled body pillows, which feature fluffy, vegan-friendly polyester fibers that may or may not be sourced from plastic bottles or another recycled material. Some body pillows have latex cores. Sourced from the sap of rubber trees, the material is dense and supportive but potentially too firm for some sleepers.

Firmness

Speaking of firmness, the material has a lot to do with how much support a body pillow offers. This is crucial for folks looking to reduce strain on their hips and knees while they sleep. As mentioned above, latex tends to be the firmest material. Solid memory foam can provide ample support as well, though shredded fill often means you can adjust the loft. If support and alignment aren't a priority, look for a softer, cuddlier design, such as a down or down-alternative body pillow.

Shape

Pay attention to the shape, too. Most body pillows are rectangular and measure roughly 20 x 54 inches. However, some are a bit longer or shorter to accommodate different heights, and some aren't rectangular at all. You'll find cylindrical options that provide ample hip support, along with C-shaped pregnancy pillows and U-shaped designs you can use in a straight or curved configuration.

FAQ

What are body pillows used for?

Body pillows are most often used to reduce strain on the hips, legs, and shoulders while sleeping. In addition to minimizing aches and pains and ensuring a comfortable position throughout the night, some are designed to offer pressure relief and promote a natural spinal alignment. Having said that, lots of folks simply like to have something to cuddle with at night—and to each their own.
When should you opt for a body pillow over a normal pillow?

If you're having trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position or are placing smaller pillows between your knees or under your hips at night, a body pillow might be a good solution. While it's not necessarily a replacement for a normal bed pillow—lots of folks like to use both—some designs offer support for your head and neck, eliminating the need for a standard pillow.
How do you wash a body pillow?

While some are machine-washable, others call for spot cleaning or dry-cleaning only. Ideally, your body pillow will have a removable case you can wash and dry along with your other bedding. In some cases, you can also clean the core in a standard washing machine and tumble-dry it, but it's best to check the manufacturer's care instructions to be sure.

Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in sleep products, textiles, and lifestyle. For this roundup, she researched the various types, shapes, materials, and uses for body pillows, then looked at dozens of options from a variety of brands and retailers. She pored over user reviews, combed through product specs, looked at various certification standards, and referenced multiple research journals before landing on the final picks. As a commerce copywriter and product reviewer, Theresa has personally tried products from several brands featured here, including Coop Home Goods, Buffy, The Company Store, Yana, and Coyuchi. She has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she covers bedding and home goods.