Understanding the Stages of Sleep & How It Affects Your Body: Do You Really Need 8-9 Hours of Sleep? (Updated for 2022)

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To give you a quick answer, yes, you do need 8-9 hours of sleep every night. More even, if you’re younger. Newborns, for example, require up to 17 hours of sleep per day to develop well. But as newborns grow into kids, teens, and enter adulthood, sleep is still crucial. It’s not hard to understand … Read more

The 12 Best Body Pillows of 2022 (Rated By Sleep Experts)

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The 12 Best Body Pillows of 2022 (Rated By Sleep Experts)

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Best Body Pillows

4.7/5

We think that body pillows are underrated sleep accessories and should be given as much attention as your standard pillow. Long, supportive, and comes in different fill and firmness options, it’s not just for pregnant women, it’s a life-saver for restless sleepers and those looking for relief from chronic pain. Topping our list this year is Puffy’s Body Pillow. Plush and huggable, it features an easy-to-clean bamboo cover and offers supportive features. Learn more here and find other great body pillow brands, too!

The right body pillow provides excellent sleep benefits: extra support, improves blood circulation, pressure relief and prevents soreness. That’s why it’s so popular to use among pregnant women, elderly sleepers or simply anyone who’s looking for deep, restful sleep.

But, just like most bedding products, choosing a body pillow that suits your specific needs is crucial. While they may feature a simple, straightforward design, they are constructed differently and made for a variety of purposes:

So, we’ve rounded up some of the best body pillows to help you shop for the one that’s best suited for you. We’ve included helpful details like size, firmness, fill, pros and cons so you can make the best buying decision.

12 Best Body Pillows

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Best Overall Pick - The Puffy Body Pillow

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Best Anti-Allergy Body Pillow - AllerEase Zippered Soft Body Pillow

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Best Pregnancy Body Pillow - PharMeDoc U-Shape Pregnancy Pillow

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Best Body Pillow to Relieve Back Pain - Sleep Artisan Latex Body Pillow

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Best Cooling Body Pillow - Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Combination Body Pillow with Kool-Flow Breathable Cooling

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Best Multi-Purpose Body Pillow - Yogibo Roll Body Pillow

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Best Body Pillow for Side Sleepers - Leachco® Snoogle® Chic Supreme Maternity Pillow

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Best Body Pillow for Support & Alignment - Coop Home Goods Body Pillow

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Best Alternative Down Fill Body Pillow - Zoma Body Pillow

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Best Fleece Body Pillow - Urban Outfitters Stargazer Knit Body Pillow

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Best Organic, Bamboo Cover Body Pillow - Decroom Full Body Pillow with Zipped Bamboo Cover

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Best Budget, Jumbo Size Body Pillow - Room Essentials Body Pillow

Table of Contents

Best Overall Pick - The Puffy Body Pillow

Although the company was founded recently, Puffy is now one of the leading mattress companies today. Because of their success, they are able to design other world-class products that can help your bed be the most comfortable place in the world. This includes the Puffy Body Pillow 1, which is our pick for the best among other body pillows on this list.

The Puffy Body Pillow offers plenty of features that can spruce up your bed, as well as your sleep. One of those features is its gel-infused memory foam that helps you remain cool throughout the night. Another is the pillow’s super soft memory foam fill that contours to your body’s shape, alleviating pressure.

Firmness Level: Plush

Fill: Shredded Memory Foam

Size: 54″ x 20″

Pros

Cons

Best Anti-Allergy Body Pillow - AllerEase Zippered Soft Body Pillow

Waking up with a stuffy or runny nose is not exactly how one would want to start their day. With the AllerEase Body Pillow, not only will you wake up feeling refreshed everyday, but your nose will thank you for using it. This body pillow offers superb hypoallergenic properties that protects itself from allergens, such as dust mites, dander, and molds.

Aside from being hypoallergenic, this super soft body pillow also features a plush feel that keeps you warm and cozy throughout the night. If you have any pets at home or if your current body pillow causes or worsens your allergies, then the AllerEase Zippered Soft Body Pillow is the one for you.

Firmness Level: Plush

Fill: Down Alternative Polyester Fiber

Size: 20″ x 54″

Pros

Cons

Best Pregnancy Body Pillow - PharMeDoc U-Shape Pregnancy Pillow

If you are looking for the best pregnancy body pillow, the PharMeDoc U-Shape Pregnancy Pillow is arguably the best around. Essentially, this u-shaped body pillow provides comforting pressure relief for those that are expecting. Aside from that, this PharMeDoc body pillow features a detachable extension for you to use as a separate pillow or keep it on for more back or belly support.

However, this full body pillow is not only meant to be used by pregnant women. People who are looking to find relief from aches and pains. On top of that, those that are recovering from surgery can also benefit from using this body pillow.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: Down Alternative Microfiber

Size: 57” x 30.12” x 7”

Pros

Cons

Best Body Pillow to Relieve Back Pain - Sleep Artisan Latex Body Pillow

If you need a body pillow that offers more support rather than comfort, then you should definitely look at the Sleep Artisan Latex Body Pillow. Unlike the previous products, this one does not have a foam fill. Instead, it features an adjustable latex fill for that extra bounce that provides excellent support. Nonetheless, it also includes a small percentage of a down alternative fill, so that you are provided with a plush feel.

Thanks to the cotton cover, this body pillow does not retain heat. This means that you do not need to worry about waking up in sweats, enabling you to wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed. On top of that, it also features a recessed side, so that you can sleep more comfortably.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: 90% shredded Talalay latex, 10% poly-silk fiber

Size: 40″ x 17″ X 6″

Pros

Cons

Best Cooling Body Pillow - Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Combination Body Pillow with Kool-Flow Breathable Cooling

Waking up sweating is not ideally the best way to start your day. Plus, it can leave your pillow with a weird smell. If you suffer from this, you need a product that helps you sleep cool and fresh throughout the night. And we could not recommend a better body pillow than the Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Combination Pillow.

Covered in a bamboo rayon cover, this full sized body pillow features a highly breathable design, promoting proper airflow. This long pillow from Snuggle-Pedic is filled with a super soft shredded memory foam, which adjusts to the shape of your body. In addition, it contours to hips, shoulders, knees, and neck to alleviate the pressure forming in those parts.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: Proprietary blend of shredded memory foam

Size: 18” x 14” x 8”

Pros

Cons

Best Multi-Purpose Body Pillow - Yogibo Roll Body Pillow

If you are looking for a body pillow that works for anyone, we highly recommend this large pillow from Yogibo. The Yogibo Roll Body Pillow features a soft microbead filling that features maximum comfort. On top of that, because it is quite large, this pillow is fantastic for all rooms. Whether you place it in your bedroom, playroom, living room, etc., this pillow will always be there to provide warmth and free hugs.

If you are expecting, this pillow also helps provide support and comfort whenever you are lying down. It will help stay cozy while alleviating and preventing aches and pains. Additionally, it also provides maximum support to pregnant women when they are laying on their side. Plus, you can also use it as a backrest.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: Micro-Beads

Size: 62” x 10” x 10”

Pros

Cons

Best Body Pillow for Side Sleepers - Leachco® Snoogle® Chic Supreme Maternity Pillow

Although this pillow was designed by a registered nurse and mom for pregnant women, it does a superb job for comforting those that prefer to sleep on their sides. Side sleepers need constant support in order to prevent spinal misalignment as well as preventing pressure build up. Aside from that, this horseshoe-shaped pillow provides a contouring support for your stomach, back, and head.

This design enables you to be wrapped up in a warm embrace that alleviates aches and pains in the process. On top of being a pressure-relieving pillow, it also helps you keep warm throughout the coldness of night.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: 100% polyester fiber fill

Size: 58.75” x 25.5” x 7.75”

Pros

Cons

Best Body Pillow for Support & Alignment - Coop Home Goods Body Pillow

In order to get the most out of your sleep, you need to surround yourself with products that promote it. This includes proper spinal alignment and support. With this said, comfort is not enough. If you are looking for a full-sized pillow that promotes healthy sleep, the Coop Home Goods Body Pillow is your best bet. With this body pillow, you are able to sink into it, which not only provides comfort, but also relieves pressure.

And as mentioned before, this pillow provides a well-balanced amount of support and comfort, which allows you to sleep in a neutral position, promoting a much healthier sleep. And in addition, you can also adjust the fill so that you customize its feel to suit your preferences.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: Shredded Memory Foam

Size: 20″ x 54″

Pros

Cons

Best Alternative Down Fill Body Pillow - Zoma Body Pillow

If you are shopping for a down alternative body pillow, our sleep experts will highly recommend the Zoma Body Pillow. It features a firm yet plush fill, which means that you will be cozy and supported all night long. And because it features a down alternative fill, it is hypoallergenic, which is great news if you constantly wake up with allergies. So, not only will this pillow provide you a comfortable sleep, but it will also promote a healthier sleep.

The Zoma Body Pillow also features a highly breathable cover, making it a perfect option for those that sleep hot. Not only that, this large pillow will also help in improving alignment for if you prefer to sleep on your side.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: Shredded Memory Foam and Down Alternative Fibers

Size: 52″ x 17″ x 8″

Pros

Cons

Best Fleece Body Pillow - Urban Outfitters Stargazer Knit Body Pillow

Oftentimes, if you are looking for a supportive pillow, you will sacrifice comfort just to get the necessary benefits e.g. you may not like firm pillows but you need it to help relieve back pain. But with the Urban Outfitters Stargazer Knit Body Pillow, you will not need to worry about that. This soft fleece pillow features supportive properties so that you remain in a neutral position while you sleep on your side.

Being a made of fleece, this pillow will not only provide a healthier sleep, but it will also help spice up your bedroom. Essentially, it is both functional and stylish. On top of this, while most body pillows can be too big or too small, this one is already the perfect size for most people.

Firmness Level: Plush

Fill: 100% polyester 

Size: 16” x 36”

Pros

Cons

Best Organic, Bamboo Cover Body Pillow - Decroom Full Body Pillow with Zipped Bamboo Cover

If you are looking for a firm and supportive pillow, this one from Decroom is what our sleep experts will highly recommend. The Decroom Full Body Pillow features a firm feel, enabling you to sleep healthier, since it promotes proper alignment of your spine, back, hips, and knees. On top of being supportive, its bamboo cover also promotes proper airflow. This means it will not retain as much heat as other pillows, allowing you to sleep cool.

Firmness Level: Medium-Firm

Fill: Proprietary Microfiber Fill

Size: 20” x 54”

Pros

Cons

Best Budget, Jumbo Size Body Pillow - Room Essentials Body Pillow

If you want a large cuddly pillow to keep you warm and cozy at night, then this jumbo sized body pillow from Room Essentials is the one for you. Its larger-than-life size makes it perfect to hold onto while you sleep or relax. Aside from this, it also features a polyester cover, which means air can easily pass through it, promoting airflow. On top of that, this pillow’s hypoallergenic fiberfill ensures that your joints are well supported while also preventing allergens.

Firmness Level: Medium

Fill: 100% Polyester

Sizes:
Standard – 20” x 26”
Standard/Queen – 20” x 28”
Queen – 20” x 30”
King – 20” x 36”
Euro – 26” x 26”

Pros

Cons

Ideal Body Pillow Shapes for Each Type of Sleeper

Body Pillow Shape

Body pillows come in 3 shapes:

  • pillow8Rectangular – shaped like a standard pillow but larger and longer; best for anyone looking to have a large pillow to hug, drape a leg on or simply for added comfort. Also great for propping your feet or head up.
  • cshapedC-Shaped – offers complete support to the sleeper but it does not fully envelope the sleeper from head to toe. It still provides some wiggle room to move about.
  • ushapedU-Shaped – best for anyone who is looking for full support, including the head, the shoulders, hips and legs.

Knowing your ideal body pillow shape is key to optimum sleep comfort. However, your sleeping position and specific needs is also one good way to determine the best one for you. Learn more below:

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need constant support, especially on their hips, shoulders, and knees. With a body pillow, it can prevent shoulders from slouching, as well as keep the hips aligned with the spine. For the knees, it keeps both separated, preventing any unnecessary pressure build up.

Pregnant Women

When pregnant, the belly will add more weight to a woman’s midsection. This creates unnecessary pressure and can lead to discomfort. That is why doctors advise pregnant women to sleep on their sides. A u-shaped or c-shaped pillow can help provide extra comfort and support.

People Recovering from Surgery and Those with Chronic Pain

After surgery, it might be difficult for people to sleep in their ideal sleeping position. With a full body pillow, it can help people find a comfortable position thanks to added comfort. The same goes for those that suffer from any sort of chronic pain.

People with Back Pain

Body pillows are well-known to help with the neck and spine by enabling the back muscles to relax, alleviating any sort of discomfort on your back.

Stomach Sleepers

Although stomach sleeping is looked down upon as it can cause strain, aches, and pains, having a body pillow enables stomach sleepers to train themselves to sleep on their side while providing the same sensation when they sleep on their stomachs.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you prefer to sleep on your back, you should steer clear of body pillows. This is because using a body pillow while sleeping on your back can provide uneven support. The only time that back sleepers can use a body pillow is when they are used as a head pillow. However, even just a standard pillow can get this job done and with a lesser price tag.

When it comes to cleaning a body pillow, you should always follow the instructions included in its package. That is because care instructions vary depending on the pillow brand. Also, most body pillows come with a removable cover that is machine washable for easy cleaning. However, some only advise spot cleaning.

Conclusion

Body pillows may not always get the same attention as standard pillows, it really is a sleep accessory that truly helps improve your sleep quality. With so many health benefits, a body pillow will definitely be your best friend and a versatile addition to your bedding set.

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