Are you having trouble getting to sleep? If aches and pains are keeping you up at night, body pillows are a powerful and easy way to help relieve any tension.
Related: Here are 20 cheap things to buy on Amazon to help you sleep better
Best body pillows at a glance:
In a rush? You can start shopping straight away thanks to these quick links:
Don't forget to keep reading to find out why these lot made it onto our shortlist.
Related: The best orthopaedic pillows
What are body pillows used for?
What you use your body pillow for is completely up to you! Generally speaking, here are some of the best benefits of using a body pillow:
• Find a comfortable sleeping position
• Pressure point relief
• Improve blood circulation
• Spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers
• Helps with posture
• Incredible pregnancy support for belly, legs and head
How we chose the best body pillows:
All of these body pillows have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.
Discover everything you need to know about body pillows now, including which one to buy.
Best body pillows
Sleep better during pregnancy
Best pregnancy body pillow
Fed up with being unable to a good night of sleep? We hear you. If you're looking to make a small change to help you get them ZZZs, a body pillow is the way forward. But not just anybody pillow, this body pillow. We love the U-shape as it supports your head, neck, spine, belly, back hips and legs. Use it in whatever position feels comfortable to you on the bed, sofa or even the floor.
One happy reviewer said, "If I could give this six stars I would!"I have never had trouble sleeping before I was pregnant, but when I got to 16 weeks I couldn't stop tossing and turning in the night. I started only being able to sleep in stretches of two to three hours, being awake for long periods in between, which made me really tired for work. Since I got the pillow, I've managed to sleep straight through for nine hours, which is a huge game-changer. I have recently started getting back pain in the day, but this disappears when I lay in the pillow. My husband says he's going to keep using it after the baby is here as he likes the support it gives his back in the bed."
Perfect for anyone needing support
Best C-shaped body pillow
Soft material, belly and hip support and a lifetime manufacturer warranty are just some of the reasons why this body pillow will be right for you. If you suffer with your back, hip or knees this pillow will elevate at least some tension.
One review said, "I wasn't sure what type of pillow to go for, but this pillow had overwhelming reviews of how much it improved pain, so I decided to give it a go! I had to leave a review to tell others how amazing this pillow is, I started suffering with pelvic girdle pain early on and hadn't been sleeping, but since having this pillow my sleeping has significantly improved and so has my comfort during the night."
Great gift for cat lovers
Best novelty body pillow
How cute is this body pillow? The cat design ranges in sizes from 5cms right up to 150cms so that you can choose the right one for you.
A reviewer said, "Bought this for my nephew for his birthday; he and his parents love it! My brother and his wife have managed to get him to use it as his cuddle sleeping pillow, so when it's nap time - they bring out the cat body pillow, and he just knows it's time for sleep, he gets excited too! Great purchase!
Multifunctional and practical
Best U-shape pillow
Make a statement with this U-shape pillow. It will change your life thanks to its ability to bring relief to leg swelling, improve blood circulation and provide good back support.
One reviewer said, "Love this pillow. I'm a large-sized lady and find this keeps me in a good sleeping position. It supports my back and stops me rolling over and is great for positioning my arms. It's also psychologically comforting to hug it. I'm very glad I bought it. Good product. Recommended."
A fun body pillow
Best boyfriend pillow
Who wouldn't want a boyfriend pillow to hold onto all night? This fun body pillow is an amazing gift for any single friends in your life.
A reviewer said, "I got one for my friend who was isolated alone during the lockdown, due to living in a separate house to her partner. Amusing and practical present. Cheered her up anyway and was a bit of fun!"
Complete body support
Best all round body pillow
www.silentnight.co.uk
Whatever your preferred sleeping position, the support pillow from Silentnight is here to help. If you're expecting a baby, this is a versatile pillow that can be used to support your bump, prop you up while you enjoy a lie-in or help with nursing your baby.But, this pillow isn't just for pregnancy, here's what I found out...
Tried and tested by Lily Anderson, "I had a car accident a couple of years ago, and my back has never been the same since. A couple of rounds of physio later and I'm still suffering from neck, shoulder and lower back pain. I'd heard a lot about body support pillows from a couple of friends who had used them during pregnancy and was excited to try one out. I'm only three days into using my Silentnight Body Support Pillow, but I'm inseparable from it. It's great for extra support on the sofa; I use it to prop myself up and the way it hugs my back, relieving tension in my lower back. I'd usually have to get up and stretch around if I watch telly even for an hour, but with this pillow, it wasn't the case. "The only downside to this pillow so far is that it's absolutely massive. It's basically like two pillows put together, and it takes up a lot of room in my king size bed, something my partner isn't too happy with. That said, the results I'm experiencing when I'm sleeping with it is totally worth it. My neck and back are still stiff right now, but I've not woken up once in pain. This is usually a daily occurrence. I'm excited to see how this will continue to support me in the future."
Breathable and comfortable
Best storable body pillow
www.very.co.uk
Snuggle up with the Kally Sleep Kally Body Pillow and feel supported all night long. Benefits include hypo-allergenic materials, the supportive Hollow-fibre interior moulds to your body, and it's easy to clean.
A reviewer said, "Bought this as I sleep in weird positions and tend to move a lot in my sleep I've tried using regular pillows, but would occasionally wake up in pain but with this - I have yet to wake up in any pain."Pros: Comes with a cover, compact if needed to be stored for going away and it has a medium firmness."Cons: The price is a bit on the high side for a basic body pillow and could be a bit longer and wider in my opinion."
Best body pillow verdict:
Taking the number one spot is Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow. We love this body pillow because it not only can it be used for pregnancy thanks to its detachable extension, but it can help support your back, hips, knees, neck, and head while you're sleeping.
Plus, the fact that this number has 31,000 reviews, must mean it's good, right?
If you're thinking about choosing a different body pillow, don't worry! The rest of these products have been recognised by us for good reason - here's why the rest of the body pillows have featured:
Best everyday body pillow: Silentnight Body Support Pillow
Best storable body pillow: Kally Sleep Kally Body Pillow
Best C-shaped body pillow: Pharmedoc Full Body Pillow
Best novelty body pillow: Artwarm Bolster Pillow
Best U-shape pillow: QUEEN ROSE Pregnancy Pillow with Velvet Cover
Best boyfriend pillow: Boyfriend cuddly pillow
Now that you have decided which pillow is right for you, we've answered some commonly asked questions around body pillows and how they will help you have a good night sleep.
Do body pillows help with snoring?
According to the NHS website, "Snoring is caused by things such as your tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your nose vibrating as you breathe. It happens because these parts of your body relax and narrow when you're asleep."
Body pillows can help reduce snoring as it'll help open up the airways by aligning the head and neck.
Discover more advice around snoring and things you can do to help you stop snoring here.
Can body pillows help with back pain?
Body pillows can absolutely help with back pain. Not only do they help with pressure point relief, but these pillows will help you find a comfortable position whether you're sleeping, working or chilling out on the sofa.
How to wash body pillows:
Washing your body pillow is easy, once you understand the steps you need to take. Each and every body pillow will have different wash care instructions, so before you head straight for the washing machine, read the label.
Not able to find the care instructions? Reach out to the manufacturer! They'll be able to point you in the right direction to find information on how to wash your body pillow.
If you have a body pillow that has a cover, please check whether or not you can wash both the cover and pillow itself.
Read more:
Lily Anderson is a writer at Bauer Media, where she tests products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Mother&Baby.
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