But if you’re someone who has acid reflux or post-surgery pain, finding the right sleep setup can be a struggle. A wedge pillow, which elevates the head and shoulders, could be your best bet for much-needed support (and relief) throughout the night. Plus, it boasts other potential benefits like minimizing snoring, helping with sleep apnea, and even reducing neck pain. According to Seema Bonney, M.D., founder and director of the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia, wedge pillows are most commonly used by folks looking to relieve symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder), snoring, and post-surgery pain. “Improving sleeping posture improves the quality of sleep,” she adds. A wedge pillow can be layered under a standard comfort pillow or used solo depending on your needs—and usage goes beyond simply supporting your head, neck, and shoulders. “Elevating the lower body and legs with a wedge pillow can improve vascular circulation,” Bonney explains. Of course, you don’t need a medical reason to add a wedge pillow into your rotation either; the extra support is also great for getting in a comfier position while watching TV or reading in bed—assuming you have the space. Sleep position: While some side sleepers can benefit from sleeping on a wedge with a pillow, they’re definitely better suited to back sleepers. If you’re not a strict back sleeper but want to give one a try, be sure to look at the materials. “Memory foam pillows form to fit your shape and are better for side sleepers, whereas polyfoam is better for back sleepers since they offer firmer support to keep the back aligned,” says Bonney. Materials: At mbg we focus on products that are as environmentally friendly as possible (and safe to bring into your home). Although not many wedge pillows go above and beyond in this department, we still managed to find a handful of picks made with nontoxic or CertiPUR-US Certified materials. Brentwood Home’s Zuma Foam Wedge earns our top spot of “best overall” because it’s one of the only brands that makes an effort to use sustainable and nontoxic materials. Although it’s still made with a dense support foam, the material is a proprietary plant-based memory foam that’s CertiPUR-US Certified. (Plus, Brentwood Home is a climate-neutral company, so it reduces and offsets carbon emissions for extra sustainability points.) How it arrives: The base of the Zuma Foam Wedge is 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep with options for a 7-, 10-, or 12-inch height. The large footprint means the pillow arrives compressed and rolled up in a box, and it takes a full day to expand. Luckily, many shoppers say it pops to life quickly with mixed reviews on whether the materials emit any funky smells. What customers say: Brentwood Home offers a few different wedge pillows, but the Zuma is its top-rated option with 4.5 out of 5 stars. Most reviews are positive with folks saying it reduces sinuses, snoring, and reflux symptoms. On the negative side, a few people wished the wedge was softer—especially for side sleeping—and some complained it never fully expanded, even after 24 hours. If you’re not quite sure what elevation will work best for you, this adjustable option from Sleep Number is a good way for you to test out a few different options. The wedge comes with three foam inserts that you can arrange to create a 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, or 8-inch height. One of the inserts is made from a softer memory foam material that can be placed on for a cushier sleep surface (ideal for side sleepers), while the other two are on the firm side. All components are wrapped in a removable cover that can be washed for a quick refresh. How it arrives: Sleep Number offers free shipping to have this wedge pillow delivered right to your door—and unlike other designs, it doesn’t have any complaints from reviewers about stinky off-gassing smells or extended expansion times. What customers say: Reviewers on Sleep Number’s website give this adjustable wedge pillow 4.6 out of 5 stars. The lower range of incline options appeals to shoppers who don’t want to feel like they’re practically sitting up in bed—especially folks recovering post-surgery or looking to alleviate reflux. Several people also praise the quality of the pillow, reporting that it holds up well over time. Most of the negative reviews are common for wedge pillows; some folks say they slide down while sleeping, others complain that it’s too firm. Made in the USA, this wedge combines both cushy gel memory foam and dense polyurethane foam into a supportive pick with a 10-inch slope. Designed softer than most pillows to suit a wider range of sleeping positions, it’s a great cooling pick for those who sleep hot due to the infusion of cooling technology. How it arrives: Helix ships the wedge pillow for free, and it arrives compressed in a box. Several people say the off-gassing smell from packaging lingers in the pillow for a while, but it should go away after a few days. Once it arrives, you’ll have 100 nights to decide whether the wedge is for you. What customers say: Helix is a big name in the mattress business (we featured a Helix in our roundup of best soft mattresses) and both its beds and pillows have great ratings. Many reviewers comment on the wedge design, claiming it improved back and neck pain, as well as reducing snoring and GERD symptoms. More impressively, a lot of folks call it “comfortable,” which is extremely rare for a wedge. It’s almost enough to make you forget that the brand doesn’t have any special certifications or sustainable materials in the design. Another sustainable option from Brentwood Home, this Crystal Cover Wedge Pillow takes the same plant-based memory foam from the Zuma Wedge pillow and infuses it with charcoal for a cool-to-the-touch surface. Despite the addition, the materials are both CertiPUR-US Certified and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means they meet rigorous, third-party emission standards for chemical exposure and pollutants. What’s more, the machine-washable pick has one of the nice covers that we’ve seen on a wedge pillow. How it arrives: Although the cooling pick arrives in a box, reviewers say it doesn’t take long for the compressed pillow to pop to life. And thanks to this pillow’s certified foams, there aren’t any funky smells during the expansion process. What customers say: Reviewers give the Crystal Cove Wedge 4.7 out of 5 stars—and the textured fabric isn’t the only component impressing reviewers. The 10-inch elevation and supportive feel of the wedge help reduce snoring for many, while others were impressed with small details like the handles. A handful of shoppers complained the 10-inch was too high for them, but a majority of reviews were overwhelmingly positive. As an added perk, Brentwood Home donates 1% of proceeds from the Crystal Cove line to nonprofit Sustainable Surf, which plants and protects blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. When you’re trying to get the most bang for your buck, it’s important to select products that serve multiple purposes—like this AllSett Health wedge. The adjustable design can be used seven different ways with four options for supporting your back and three for lifting your knees. Velcro straps and a hinge design allow you to rearrange the wedge to be 9 or 12 inches tall with elongating variations for tall people. Regardless of setup, you can count on handles for easy moving and a removable cover for efficient washing. How it arrives: What customers say: Side sleepers and those who prefer lying flat should keep this longer wedge in mind. Its 5-inch slope is considerably flatter than most designs, which creates a more gradual feel that better replicates a standard pillow or mattress. Made with two layers of medical-grade foam, it’s still firmer than most options and comes with a removable cover. How it arrives: You won’t need to worry about off-gassing smells or expansion issues when you first unbox this pick—and the stress-free purchase continues thanks to a lifetime product guarantee. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll be able to return the wedge for a refund within the first year or for store credit after the trial period. What customers say: With 4.2 out of 5 stars, most reviews of this pillow say it does a good job of relieving congestion, heartburn, reflux symptoms, and snoring. One reviewer raves, “This one is steep enough to help with heartburn but not so steep that you can’t stay on it. The cover is soft to the touch but sort of like velvet, so you don’t slip down as much.” Any negative reviews refer to the firmness of the design or complaints about the length not working well for taller folks. Firmness level: Most wedge pillows are going to seem firm, as it helps to maintain the wedge’s shape. Still it might not be the most comfortable to lie on, especially if you’re more comfortable on your side. Side sleepers’ best bet is to look for wedge pillows that use memory foam, which typically offers better pressure relief. And if snoring is a concern, be sure to check out our roundup of the best anti-snore pillows. After all, getting a good night’s sleep is essential, and nothing should stand in your way of getting the zzz’s you deserve.
