Best Body Pillows

Pillows. We all have them. We all love them. They provide comfort. The assist with sleep. We spend hours with them every night. They are a joy and a pleasure. However, sometimes they aren’t enough. Sometimes our love of pillows gets so intense that a regular pillow won’t do. It simply isn’t enough for some. They need something more substantial. For these unique souls, the pillow industry has a solution. Of course, we are talking about body pillows.

That’s right, body pillows. They are exactly what they sound like: pillows so big that they will run the length of your body. It’s like having another body in your bed, except that body isn’t made out of flesh and bones, it’s made out of a fluffy and comfy pillow. The applications are clear. The comfort is undeniable. There’s a reason why body pillows seem to be rising in popularity all the time. The only challenge is figuring out which body pillow is the right one to bring home to your bed.

That’s where our Sleep Judge experts come in.  We’ve done the research. We’ve tried some of the best and absolute worst body pillows on the market. We know what you need. So rely to our expertise and soon you’ll be enjoying sound and satisfying sleeps next to the body pillow of your dreams. Below, you’ll find our picks for the best body pillows that you’ll ever cuddle. Below that, you’ll find a definitive guide to buying a body pillow. In other words, by the time that you’re done reading this article, you’ll be armed with the knowledge to bring home the body pillow of your dreams. So what are you waiting for? Read on, and prepare for body pillow bliss!

Rank	Product
#1	Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Body Pillow check price
#2	Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow check price
#3	SnuggL L-Shaped 3-In-1 Body Pillow check price
#4	Coop Home Goods Memory Foam Body Pillow check price

Our Picks for the Best Body Pillows

Best Overall Pillow — Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Body Pillow

If you’re dipping your toes into the comfy pool of body pillows for the first time, then the Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Body Pillow is your best choice. Oh sure, there are other more specialized memory pillows that might be shaped and designed to fit your specific needs, but if you’re looking for the platonic ideal of a basic model body pillow, this is it. Filled with shredded memory foam, this pillow is satisfyingly conforming, while also being breathable enough to sleep cool (not an easy balance to strike!). It will offer comfort and support, with enough heft to feel like you’re hugging another person in the bed. So, if you’ve been curious about body pillows and want to know what all the fuss is about, this is the perfect way to find out what these big, beautiful, and comfy pillows are all about.

Pros

• Strong orthopedic support.
• Breathable shredded memory foam filling.
• Machine washable.

Cons

• Might be too heavy for some.

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Best U-Shaped Body Pillow — Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow

Anyone specifically seeking out a body pillow to help relieve their back pain will want to narrow their focus to a U-Shaped body pillow. And if it’s a U-Shaped body pillow that you seek, nothing compares to the Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow. This is a big boy, coming in at a full 64 inches long and 10.5 inches wide. It will support both your front and back, while also making rolling over virtually impossible. The fusion filling is hypoallergenic, odorless, and machine washable, while the cover is made of beautifully breathable cotton. That combination of elements makes this pillow appealing to just about everyone. This is an ideal way to surround yourself in a body pillow that provides the support and comfort that you crave. Nothing compares. Your back pain just met its match!

Pros

• Strong orthopedic support for front and back.
• Machine washable.
• Hypoallergenic fusion filling.

Cons

• Might be too heavy for some.
• Very difficult to wash due to sheer scale.

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Best L-Shaped Body Pillow — SnuggL L-Shaped 3-In-1 Body Pillow

That’s right, an L-Shaped body pillow. These don’t come around very often. But if you’re looking for an option that will lay under your head like a conventional pillow, while still offering a large body pillow to snuggle, this is the one for you. Designed by a doctor who suffers from chronic back pain, this pillow is specially designed to offer medical-grade support and napper-grade comfort. Hypoallergenic and cooling materials were used for maximum comfort and appeal. It even comes with not one, but two machine washable cases to making cleaning a breeze. This might be a somewhat unconventional body pillow compared to others on the list, but the innovation of this design is undeniable.

Pros

• Unique design offers special orthopedic support for chronic back pain.
• Multiple machine washable cases included.
• Hypoallergenic cover and filling.

Cons

• Might be too heavy for some.
• Quite bulky.

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Best Customizable Body Pillow — Coop Home Goods Memory Foam Body Pillow

If you’re well-versed in the ways of the body pillow and seek out an option with a customizable girth to suit your specific comfort needs, then this incredible pillow from Coop Home Goods, is the one for you. There is a zipper that allows you to add and remove as much memory foam as necessary to meet your specific comfort needs. The foam itself is gel infused for added cooling. The cover is both hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant, but unfortunately not washing machine safe (although to be fair, you’d be hard pressed for find a home washing machine that could handle any body pillow). This is a fantastic option for anyone seeking a premium body pillow that allows them to customize the firmless level. There aren’t many body pillows that offer this option. So if that’s what you crave from the body pillow in your life, click the link below.

Pros

• Adjustable comfort.
• Easily Moldable.
• Highly Breathable Design.

Cons

• Might be too heavy for some.
• Not machine washable.
• Quite Bulky.

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Things To Look Out For

Here are some things to consider when choosing which body pillow is right for you.

Shape

While you may have only seen the most basic style of body pillow before, you might be surprised to learn that body pillows actually come in a variety of shapes to suit a variety of sleep needs. The I-Shape is the most common, and it’s the big long body pillow that you’ve likely seen before, which allows users to rest their head and neck on the top while wrapping their legs at the bottom, aligning the spine and relieving pressure points in the process.

Next comes the U-Shape body pillow. It looks like a giant U and is designed to provide support on both sides of the body, relieve pressure on the hips/knees, and prevent sleepers from rolling onto their back. The C-Shape pillow supports the neck and the top of a sleeper, while curling down to support the legs. Finally, the J-Shape offers full body support with a base curve the supports the leg. Which shape of body pillow is right for you depends entirely on your personal needs, but it’s definitely the first aspect of a body pillow to research before beginning your shopping journey.

Fill Material

Like any pillow, body pillows are available with multiple fills to suit multiple needs. While there are a wide variety of pillow fillings available, the three most common are Memory Foam, Microbeeds, and Polyester. Each has their own advantages. Memory Foam will contour to your body to provided added support. Microbeeds also mold to the body, but are lighter and more breathable (which is important if you tend to sleep hot). Polyester isn’t quite as supportive, but it offers a nice balance between a soft and firm texture, while also tending to be the least expensive option.

Pillow Weight

You’ve probably never considered the weight of a pillow before. Why would you? How often does that ever come up? Well, if you’re planning on picking up a body pillow, it absolutely should be a factor. Some have complained that heavy body pillows can cause pain and discomfort for sleepers who like to snuggle their pillow or sleep with an arm under it. So, if that describes your sleep pattern, make sure to factor pillow weight into consideration when choosing a body pillow.

Pain Relief

On the flip side of things, body pillows have also been proven to offer pain relief by soothing muscles, supporting pressure points, aligning the spine, and even improving blood circulation. Most body pillows can be molded to target any problem areas on your body, so if you’re suffering from any of these issues, a body pillow just might be the ideal solution that you haven’t tried yet!

Pregnant Ladies and Body Pillows Unite

Body pillows have been proven to be a particularly effective sleep aid for pregnant women, who can use them to get added back and leg support. Body pillows also prevent sleepers from rolling onto their stomachs or backs, which can often be unsafe during pregnancy.  So if you (or your partner) is pregnant and has been struggling to sleep properly, a body pillow just might be the solution that you’ve been looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will my body pillow be long enough for my body?

Obviously it depends on your height. In general, body pillows have been made for those of average height. They generally measure between 48 and 54 inches in length, which is long enough for an average body to cradle and stick between the legs. If that’s inadequate for your needs, there are longer body pillows available. However, they will need to be specially ordered and aren’t generally available on store shelves.

Which style of body pillow is best for back pain?

While all body pillows can offer support and relief for this issue, the U-Shaped body pillow has been proven to be the most effective body pillow to treat back pain. The unique design will wrap around your front and back, providing target back support while also easing pressure on your hips and knees. This offers the best relief from back pain among all body pillow designs.

Why do I want to hug a pillow in the first place?

Hugging a pillow is a natural human impulse, especially during sleep hours. Hugs generally provide a soothing and calming effect. So it stands to reason that hugging a comfy pillow throughout the night will help sooth and calm you into a long and satisfying sleep.

Which body pillow is best for someone who sleeps hot?

This is tricky because, obviously clinging to a pillow throughout the night is more likely to retain heat rather than disperse it. The best option is to seek out a body pillow with more breathable fillings (shredded memory foam, feathers, etc.) and covers (cotton or another natural fiber). Unfortunately, there aren’t yet cooling body pillows available yet, so focusing on the most breathable possible materials is likely your best option here.

How long does it take to get used to sleeping with a body pillow?

Since body pillows aren’t generally a part of our sleep habits, it will take time to adjust to how it affects your sleep pattern. How long will vary depending on the individual. Some will take to a body pillow immediately, while others may never be able to adjust. In general, you should expect to spend five nights with a body pillow before you get used to comfortably sleeping with one.

Can body pillows help with snoring and sleep apnea?

Believe it or not, body pillows can even help with these issues. It’s been proven that sleeping on your side dramatically reduces the chances of snoring. Since body pillows force you into that sleep position (with added support and comfort for good measure!), that means that they will also help reduce snoring.

How do I wash my body pillow?

Since you’ll be wrapping your body around your body pillow, you’ll want to wash it every few months. Given the size of a body pillow, that can be tricky. While most body pillows are machine washable, most washing machines can’t accommodate them. So it might be worth taking your body pillow to a professional cleaner or hand washing it in your bathtub. Getting a cover for your body pillow that can be washed separately is also a good idea to help keep it clean.