Migraine headaches can completely disrupt your day. When the intense pain sets in, oftentimes the only solution is to hide under the covers in a dark room.
To help you get the pressure relief and comfort you need during these painful moments, I rounded up a list of the best pillows for migraines. A new pillow won’t completely cure you, but they can alleviate neck tension and help you feel better faster.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Pillow for Migraines?
I named the Cozy Earth as the best pillow for migraines. It has a leg up on traditional pillows, because it has an eco-friendly design that was made with cooling materials. The pillow’s medium firmness should lend itself to a comfortable rest for those who are experiencing migraine symptoms.
The Best Pillows for Migraines
- Cozy Earth – Best Overall Pillow for Migraines
- Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow – Best Cooling Pillow for Migraines
- Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow – Best Pillow for Migraines for Combination Sleepers
- Nolah Squishy Pillow – Best Adjustable Pillow for Migraines
- Luxome LAYR – Best Eco-Friendly Pillow for Migraines
- TEMPUR-Neck Pillow – Best Pillow for Neck Pain and Migraines
- Sleep Number True Temp – Best Pillow for Hot Sleepers with Migraines
- Lagoon Otter – Best Memory Foam Pillow
How We Chose Our Products
The Mattress Clarity team, which I am a part of, has tested hundreds of pillows and mattresses. For this specific roundup, we focused on pillows that offer excellent neck support and help keep the spine in a neutral alignment.
As someone who gets migraines frequently, I know how important it is to alleviate neck tension when a migraine strikes. I combined my first-hand experience with our subjective tests to find the best pillows for migraines.
Best Overall Pillow for Migraines – Cozy Earth
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is filled with soft silk and covered with a material made out of naturally cooling bamboo viscose.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
Sleeping in silk sheets can feel luxurious, so it’s no surprise that Cozy Earth’s silk pillows are extremely comfortable too.
The pillow’s cover contains 100% viscose made from organic bamboo. In the core, there’s 100% long-strand mulberry silk fibers. It’s a super soft pillow, and it’s made with temperature-regulating materials so it won’t overheat while you sleep on it.
What We Love About the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
- It’s made with organic materials that are produced in sustainable and ethical ways.
- The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow has a plush feel and a medium firmness, making it a good choice for both back and side sleepers.
- It feels cool to the touch, so it’s great for hot sleepers.
What to Keep In Mind About the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
- This pillow is made with high-quality, durable, and luxurious materials. This makes it rather pricey, putting it out of some peoples’ price ranges.
Read our full review of the Cozy Earth pillow.
Best Cooling Pillow for Migraines – Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
Mattress Clarity Score
4.60 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
The stress and pain caused by migraines in our necks or shoulders can make falling asleep and waking up a nightmare. The Brooklyn Bedding (BB) Luxury Cooling Memory Foam pillow is a highly responsive hypoallergenic pillow available in low- and high-loft options, making it accessible to all sleeper types. The pillow’s foam is infused with copper, which enhances its antimicrobial benefits and helps promote breathability. Furthermore, the luxury pillow’s high-end foam components naturally contour to your head and shoulders with a cradle meant to help ease stress while helping retain your cervical alignment, potentially decreasing inflammation and alleviating sleep-disruptive tension.
Brooklyn Bedding offers its Luxury Cooling pillow in a low loft (4 inches) designed to support back and stomach sleepers and a high loft (5 inches) best suited for side sleepers. The BB Luxury Cooling Pillow uses high-end perforated foam infused with cooling gel, which, in addition to copper, helps keep you cool while dissipating irritating body heat that could lead to mold buildup and clamminess. Additionally, the static yet responsive foam design prevents the need for repeated pillow fluffing, responding to your movements with a consistent loft that doesn’t stop supporting you regardless of your movements at night.
Moreover, the outer cover of the BB Luxury Cooling Pillows is made with a highly breathable cotton and polyester blend that helps to wick moisture while preventing body heat from getting trapped. In addition, while the pillow’s interior foam can only be spot-cleaned, the outer cover can be easily machine-washed.
While the stress that can cause migraines may require some additional work, the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow is a potentially reliable tool for easing migraine pain while keeping you cool, clean, and rested.
What We Love About the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
- The Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Pillow has an outer breathable cotton and polyester cover and an interior copper and gel-infused perforated foam, all specially designed to help regulate body heat while keeping you cool at night.
- The BB Luxury Pillow offers a low and high loft option, making it more accessible to various sleeper types.
- The viscose-based cover and copper-infused foam materials used in the pillow make it more hypoallergenic.
What to Keep In Mind About the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
- While BB’s Luxury Cooling Pillow has a low-loft option meant to support stomach sleepers, many stomach sleepers may still prefer a lower-loft or down pillow.
Our full review of the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow is coming soon!
Best Pillow for Migraines for Combination Sleepers – Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow
Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow
Our Expert’s Take
The Saatva Graphite pillow is a hotel-grade memory foam pillow built to be adjustable, allowing all sleeper types to customize their loft to their specific sleeping needs. Combination sleepers who struggle to find a versatile pillow that adapts to their multiple sleeping patterns can appreciate Saatva Graphite’s shredded memory foam interior, which can be removed or added to change the pillow’s loft easily. Before getting into this high-end pillow’s construction, I should mention that our testers tried it and discovered impressive results. Most notably, our testers gave the Saatva Graphite a 4.5/5 for its cooling abilities and durability and, most impressively, a 5/5 for its orthopedic support.
The Saatva Graphite’s outer cover is made with 100% certified organic cotton, which is highly breathable and can be conveniently removed and machine-washed. On the inside, there are two additional comfort and support layers. First, there is a graphite-infused foam layer designed to keep you cool and dry while preventing bacteria buildup. This layer contours to your head, neck, and shoulders with responsive support and orthopedic-style cushioning. Then, there is an adjustable and optional “proprietary” (according to Saatva) shredded foam and natural latex core that allows for customizable loft and comfort while enhancing pillow durability and stimulating airflow.
The Saatva Graphite was designed specifically with side sleepers in mind but can support all sleeper types due to its unique build. Stomach sleepers may still prefer an even lower loft than removing the core offers, like that offered by down pillows, but testers found that the pillow should likely still support them.
The Saatva Graphite is a versatile, eco-friendly, and luxurious pillow that offers potentially more options for finding the precise loft and pillow support that best helps you achieve more quality rest.
What We Love About the Saatva Graphite
- The Saatva Graphite is a three-layer pillow with an adjustable shredded foam core that can be removed or added to customize the pillow’s loft and best support cervical alignment regardless of your sleeping pattern.
- Saatva uses 100% organic cotton for its Graphite Pillow’s outer cover and 100% CertiPUR-US natural foam and latex components for its interior support and comfort layers.
- The Saatva Graphite’s memory foam layer is infused with graphite to help dissipate body heat and keep you cool. Furthermore, its cotton cover helps with breathability. After trying it out, one tester commented, “I can safely say that the Saatva Memory Foam pillow is a great option for hot sleepers.”
What to Keep In Mind About the Saatva Graphite
- The Saatva Graphite is a luxury-grade pillow with a price that reflects that status. While 165$ for its queen-size pillow may be reasonable for some, budget-minded shoppers may want to consider another option.
Read our full review of the Saatva Graphite pillow.
Best Adjustable Pillow – Nolah Squishy Pillow
Nolah Squishy Pillow
If you love that squishy, slow-moving feel of memory foam in your pillows, then the Nolah Squishy Pillows are for you. These cooling foam pillows come in a double pack and are super comfortable but equally supportive.
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The Nolah Squishy Pillow is an easy-to-use, supportive, and competitively-priced adjustable pillow. The Squishy Pillow has an outer cover made of an eco-friendly OEKO-Tex-certified blend of breathable bamboo viscose and polyester. The outer cover is also machine-washable and can be removed by simply unzipping it and taking out the pillow’s core. Testers described the cover’s feel as “silky” and found it to efficiently prevent moisture buildup, stating that “the Squishy’s cover should stay cool throughout the night”. When you unzip the cover, on the inside, you have a colossal of removable “squishy” foam “cubes” that can be taken out or added in to adjust and customize the pillow’s loft. Moreover, the foam cube filling is made with CertiPUR-US-certified foam material, guaranteeing that it is made without harmful toxins and has a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process.
The moldable inner foam core adapts to your head, neck, and shoulders with soft, cushioning comfort and firm support. After testing out the Squishy Pillow, testers gave it a 5/5 for its support, determining that it helped keep their spines aligned. Furthermore, the hypoallergenic and breathable cover and foam core kept testers feeling cool when using the Squishy. Testers gave the pillow a 4/5 for its cooling abilities, stating, “The shredded Nolah foam cubes allow for easy airflow through the pillow, while the bamboo cover is naturally breathable and wicks moisture away from the body.”
Moreover, the Nolah Squishy is competitively priced for its quality. Despite its versatility and eco-friendly construction, the pillow is $77 for a queen-size mode, which is impressive when compared to similar pillows. Overall, the Nolah Squishy’s build and adjustability offer options, quality comfort, and restorative support in a pillow for all sleeper types.
What We Love About the Nolah Squishy Pillow
- The Squishy’s inner foam cubes can be removed or added to adjust the pillow’s loft, allowing all types of sleepers to find the pillow loft they need.
- The pillow’s outer cover is OEKO-Tex-certified, and its foam core is CertiPUR-US-certified. This means that the materials sourced and manufacturing process for the Squishy meet higher eco-friendly standards.
- The outer cover is made with bamboo viscose, a material that is naturally moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic.
What to Keep In Mind About the Nolah Squishy Pillow
- Fans of down pillows may still find the loft offered by the Squishy’s adjustable core not in line with their comfort needs.
Read our full Nolah Squishy Pillow review.
Best Eco-Friendly Pillow for Migraines – Luxome LAYR
Luxome LAYR Pillow
The LUXOME LAYR Pillow is a high-quality adjustable option that allows you to create your own comfort.
Our Expert’s Take
The Luxome LAYR is an adjustable pillow with multiple cotton and foam inserts, allowing for an array of customizable loft options and configurations for better rest and relief from sleep-disrupting migraines. Eco-conscious consumers can also appreciate its higher standards regarding sourced materials and production processes. The LAYR is OEKO-TEX-certified, meaning it is produced without harmful chemicals. In addition, its memory foam is CertiPUR-US-certified, meaning its foam is produced without severely toxic chemicals, which cheaper pillow manufacturers might use to cut costs but could lead to allergic reactions and result in more toxic emissions during the production process. Additionally, the outer cover on the LAYR is made with a breathable and more natural viscose material derived from bamboo.
The Luxome LAYR offers sleepers multiple cotton and memory foam inserts to enhance airflow and adjust the loft. The inserts vary in firmness and material type, allowing sleepers to experiment and create configurations specific to their needs. Our sleep specialists gave the LAYR a perfect 5/5 for its cooling abilities when trying it out, pointing out that the gel-infused foam, cotton inserts, and viscose cover work together well to create a breathable pillow experience. Furthermore, due to the pillow’s extensive and precise adjustability, our testers found it easy to find the right and most supportive fit, giving the pillow another perfect 5/5 for its orthopedic support when cushioning the head and aligning the spine.
Due to the pillow’s adjustability, most sleeper types should be able to find the right configuration with the Luxome LAYR, making it a great multi-use pillow and an awesome choice for combination sleepers. Furthermore, due to the multiple eco-related certifications of the LAYR, eco-friendly consumers and sleepers prone to allergies can rest more easily on LAYR, knowing precisely the standards in production it meets.
What We Love About the Luxome LAYR
- The Luxome LAYR is OEKO-TEX and CertiPUR-US-certified, meaning that the materials used in its build and the production process of the pillow meet more eco-friendly standards of manufacturing and materials used.
- The LAYR includes multiple foam and cotton-based inserts that allow the sleeper to adjust the pillow’s loft to one’s precise comfort needs.
- The pillow’s outer cover is made with a naturally breathable viscose material sourced from bamboo, which helps prevent body heat buildup.
What to Keep In Mind About the Luxome LAYR
- While the LAYR’s 150$ price tag for its king version may be worth it for some, it may be a little out of reach for consumers on a budget.
Read our full review of the Luxome LAYR.
Best Pillow for Neck Pain and Migraines – TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
The ergonomic shape to the TEMPUR-Neck pillow makes it an ideal pillow for anyone dealing with neck pain. This solid slab of memory foam will contour to your head and neck, giving you good support and will alleviate neck pain.
Mattress Clarity Score
3.90 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
This contoured ergonomic pillow is great for people who deal with neck pain and migraines. Its curved shape cradles the neck and helps back sleepers maintain the proper spinal alignment. Because it’s made out of firm TEMPUR material, it gently cushions the back of the neck, offering good support, which is beneficial for those who experience migraines.
The TEMPUR-Neck pillow has a soft cover made out of a polyester knit material, and it’s available in three sizes. It’s as versatile as it is durable.
What We Love About the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
- It has a curved, ergonomic design that can help people with migraines and neck pain.
- The TEMPUR-Neck pillow is Tempur-Pedic’s firmest pillow, making it very supportive, so it’s a great choice for back sleepers.
- It’s available in three sizes for different body types. The sizes (small, medium, and large) are based on shoulder width.
What to Keep In Mind About the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
- This pillow’s ergonomic design works well for back and side sleepers. However, if you’re a strict stomach sleeper, this pillow will feel uncomfortable.
Read our full TEMPUR-Neck pillow review.
Best Pillow for Hot Sleepers with Migraines – Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
With advanced cooling technology, the Sleep Number True Temp Pillow is a luxurious option. It has a plush and supportive feel, so it’s great for back and side sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
If you get migraines, the last thing you want is a pillow that traps heat and makes you feel even more uncomfortable. Luckily, the Sleep Number True Temp pillow has many impressive cooling features and offers the comfort you’ll need.
This firm and supportive memory foam pillow has a high loft, so it’s ideal for side sleepers. It has a thin and breathable cover that promotes airflow, and the foam insert is aerated for even more breathability. It’s even made out of hypoallergenic materials, so you don’t need to worry about allergy flare ups.
What We Love About the Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
- It has temperature-regulating technology, so you shouldn’t overheat at night.
- This pillow has a high loft and supportive feel, so it’s great for side sleepers.
- The Sleep Number True Temp pillow is made out of hypoallergenic materials.
What to Keep In Mind About the Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
- This pillow costs around $110 at full price, which might be too pricey for some people.
Read our full Sleep Number True Temp pillow review.
Best Memory Foam Pillow – Lagoon Otter
Lagoon Otter Pillow
The Lagoon Otter pillow works best for side sleepers who like soft plushness.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Memory foam offers excellent pressure relief and support, which is why it’s a popular material for migraine-friendly pillows. Lagoon Sleep has made it even easier for people to find the memory foam pillow of their dreams. Simply visit their website and take their sleep quiz; it will match you to the ideal firmness level and loft.
Here at Mattress Clarity, we really love the Lagoon Otter pillow. It has a medium-firm feel, and it’s filled with breathable shredded memory foam. The loft works well for most side sleepers, because it helps promote the ideal sleep posture.
What We Love About the Lagoon Otter
- Lagoon has a handy sleep quiz that matches you to your perfect pillow.
- The Otter pillow has a medium-firm feel and high loft, making it great for side sleepers with migraines. However, you can adjust this pillow, so it can meet a variety of needs and preferences.
- The shredded memory foam filling promotes airflow and offers support.
What to Keep In Mind About the Lagoon Otter
- While the adjusting process is great for those who want a “one-size-fits-all” pillow, the foam can get very messy if you’re not careful.
Read our Lagoon pillow review.
What Kind of Pillow is Best for Migraines?
Pillows won’t completely cure migraine symptoms, but they can promote the proper spinal alignment and soothe neck pain. When your head is properly aligned, it can make migraine symptoms more bearable.
Due to their pressure-relieving benefits and supportive feel, memory foam pillows work well for people with migraines. If you’re particularly worried about neck tension, you may want to choose an ergonomic pillow like the TEMPUR-Neck or Sutera.
Adjustable pillows are also great options because they allow sleepers to control the loft, which plays a large role on how comfy a pillow will feel in each sleeping position.
Can Your Pillow Cause Migraines?
While your pillow may not be the sole cause of your pain, it could contribute to it. Migraine triggers vary from person to person, and sometimes, they’re brought on by sleep deprivation and irritated nerves. If your pillow isn’t supportive, you may put pressure on the nerves in your upper neck and develop migraines. Uncomfortable pillows can also hinder sleep quality, which can exacerbate migraine headaches.
Related: Can Pillows Cause Headaches?
How to Sleep with a Migraine
It can be difficult to fall asleep with migraine symptoms that feel like someone is drilling a hole through your head. Fortunately, there are several ways to make falling asleep easier when you’re living with stabbing pain.
- Sleep in a dark room, and turn off electronics. The blue light emitted from screens can make it more difficult to fall asleep.
- Eliminate noise. When a migraine strikes, many people become sensitive to noise. It may be helpful to sleep with earplugs in order to drown out the sound.
- Avoid caffeine. Many over-the-counter migraine medications have caffeine in them, so check the ingredients before taking a pain pill before bed.
- Apply hot and cold packs to the neck and forehead. This can help alleviate pain and make it easier to fall asleep.
- Practice meditation. Migraines can be stressful. Many tools, like the Headspace and Calm apps, have guided meditations that can help you relax before bed.
Best Sleep Positions for Migraines
Migraines and neck tension go hand-in-hand, so if you’re suffering from a miserable headache, you’ll want to make sure you’re not adding neck pain into the mix. For that reason, it’s best to sleep on either your back or side when you have a migraine. Stomach sleeping puts extra strain on neck muscles, which could make the pain feel worse.
But it’s not as simple as just changing your sleeping position. It’s equally important to find a pillow that promotes a neutral alignment. For back sleepers, this means a medium loft pillow that helps the chin line up with the sternum. Side sleepers should sleep on a higher loft pillow that offers more neck support. For a good rule of thumb, make sure your shoulder lines up with your ear when you’re side sleeping. However, you don’t want to make your pillow too tall. If you’re sleeping on your side, and your head is craning upwards, this could potentially put strain on your neck, causing pain.
Summary
Once again, here are our top picks for the best pillows for migraines.
| Pillow | Best For |
| Cozy Earth | Best Overall Pillow for Migraines |
| Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow | Best Cooling Pillow for Migraines |
| Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow | Best Pillow for Migraines for Combination Sleepers |
| Nolah Squishy Pillow | Best Adjustable Pillow for Migraines |
| Luxome LAYR | Best Eco-Friendly Pillow for Migraines |
| TEMPUR-Neck pillow | Best Pillow for Neck Pain and Migraines |
| Sleep Number True Temp | Best Pillow for Hot Sleepers with Migraines |
| Lagoon Otter | Best Memory Foam Pillow |
The Best Pillows for Migraines FAQs
Can lack of sleep cause migraines?
For some people, sleep deprivation can cause a migraine attack. Triggers vary from person to person, however, so this may not apply to every person.
Does sleep help migraines?
Many studies have found that sleep can end migraines, so if you’re suffering from an attack, you may want to go to bed early and rest up.
