5 Best Pillows for Sleep Apnea, According to Experts (2025)

For side sleepers or larger individuals who need a firmer pillow to maintain alignment and prevent neck discomfort, this contoured memory foam pillow is a great option. Our Lab pros say this particular pillow has been on the market for years and stands the test of time.

It's made of solid memory foam that's ergonomically designed to provide proper alignment for back and side sleepers. The shape is made to fit the curve around your head, neck and shoulders, but still has a relatively slim profile that won't feel too high. This is key, because "too much elevation can cause neck pain and discomfort, while too little elevation may not be effective in reducing your sleep apnea symptoms," says Dr. Wu. It also comes in small, medium and large sizes to suit different body types.

Like many other pillows for sleep apnea, this one doesn't fit well in standard pillowcases, but we did confirm the outer cover is removable and can be machine washed.

We haven't tested CPAP pillows specifically, but this is a top seller on Amazon with more than 1,800 five-star reviews. The innovative design is meant to accommodate a CPAP machine, regardless of whether you're a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper or a back sleeper. The pillow boasts two dedicated sides, each with two levels of thickness — choose the one that offers the right level of support for your head and neck based on your sleeping style. It even comes with an extra layer of memory foam should you need to further adjust the height of the contoured pillow.

For both comfort and convenience, the pillow comes with two machine-washable pillowcases. You'll receive the standard case that comes on the pillow as well as a cooling case. We love that this allows you to easily wash the covers whenever needed. On the downside, some reviewers say the pillow has a strong odor at first.

A wedge pillow for sleep apnea can work well because it will elevate the head to help improve breathing and reduce apnea, says Dr. Wolfe. While our Lab hasn't tested any wedge pillows yet, this pillow is on our radar and comes from a brand that's been thoroughly tested in other categories, including both pillows and mattresses. Some Avocado products even have the GH Seal.

This particular pillow is available in two sizes — a 7-inch and a 10-inch option — and the company claims the latex fill provides breathable support. (We've tested other latex pillows from the brand and they’ve performed well in our Lab tests.) Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a pillowcase, but the brand does sell an organic cotton pillowcase that offers the perfect fit and comes in your choice of natural or white. You can also purchase a waterproof protector for added cleanliness.

For those who want plenty of support, we like the idea of a wedge. It's a highly versatile option you can use for sleeping or for leg or back support while lounging, too.

The experts we spoke to stressed that proper alignment and support is more important than the type of pillow — you don't necessarily need a CPAP pillow or even something like a contour or a wedge pillow. If you prefer a more traditionally-shaped pillow, this one from Coop Home Goods is a good option for those with sleep apnea, since the blend of memory foam pieces and microfiber clusters inside the pillow can be adjusted to your liking. Unfortunately, adjusting the fill isn't necessarily an easy task, so we recommend making any necessary adjustments from the start and then leaving it largely alone.

Our testers praised the pillow for being surprisingly supportive and plush at the same time. One tester told us they could "comfortably switch from side to back to stomach and still feel supported and comfortable." The pillow immediately bounced back to shape after our Lab's pressure tests too. The outer cover is also machine washable.

A body pillow may not be your first thought, but experts say they're worth considering. "A longer, body-shaped pillow can help make even a non-experienced side sleeper comfortable all night," says Lauri Leadley, founder and president at Valley Sleep Center.

This one, which earned top honors in our round-up of the best body pillows as well as a Good Housekeeping Bedding Award, impressed both Lab analysts and testers with its fluffy down-alternative fill. It's super soft and has a snuggly feel, yet it's still well-constructed and supportive. Testers liked that the fill wasn't overstuffed for easy adjustments overnight. This may also help accommodate a CPAP machine without difficulty.

For those who run hot, this pillow was also popular among testers for its cool-to-the-touch cover. Both the pillow and its cover are machine-washable, but after multiple wash cycles, we did notice some signs of wear on the cover. On the upside, Pluto offers a 125-night sleep trial if you want to try it out.

"Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, caused by airway obstruction," says Dr. Wu. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the airway is blocked by the tongue or other tissues in the throat.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain does not send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
• Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of OSA and CSA.

Sleep apnea can have a significant impact on sleep quality and overall health: Snoring, daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating and morning headaches tend to be common symptoms. Dr. Wu says sleep apnea can also potentially lead to other health issues including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Even for those with special health concerns like sleep apnea, picking out a pillow is a highly subjective endeavor. Consider the following features to pick out the best pillow for you:

✔️ Fill: Medical professionals often recommend contoured pillows for those with sleep apnea since they have a raised center that helps to support the neck and keep the head in a neutral position. These pillows tend to be made of memory foam, which offers excellent pressure relief as it conforms to your head’s shape. Other popular fills include down, down alternative and latex. All of these fills make excellent pillows and the one that is best for you tends to come down to personal preference. Down has a soft, fluffy feel, while foam is firmer and latex has a bouncy quality.

✔️ Height: For a comfortable night’s rest, proper neck support is critical. To find the best height for your pillow, consider both your sleeping position and your body shape. Side sleepers generally need a taller pillow than back sleepers or stomach sleepers, says Dr. Wu. "This is because side sleepers need to fill the gap between their ear and shoulder to keep their head and neck in a neutral position." Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, need something much lower and back sleepers should opt for something right in the middle. Larger-framed individuals also need a higher pillow than those who have smaller frames.

✔️ Compatibility with a CPAP machine: Consider what type of mask you wear (nasal or full face) when shopping for a CPAP pillow to ensure the pillow is compatible with your CPAP machine. Some people may opt for special pillows with carved-out areas to accommodate the machine, but the experts we spoke to told us this feature isn't a necessity.

✔️ Care: Check the pillow’s care label before purchasing to ensure it’s easy to keep clean. Contoured, wedge and CPAP pillows all have unique shapes that aren't compatible with a standard pillowcase. With this in mind, it’s even more important that the pillow you choose features a machine-washable cover for easy cleaning.